THE
HAMPSHIRE
COLONY
CHURCH
ITS FIRST
HUNDRED
YEARS
LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
285.8
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iwnqk HisrosiMi mm
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in 2012 with funding from
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OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
<The
Hampshire Colony Congregational
■ Church
ft?
Its First Hundred I] ears
<The
Hampshire Colony Congregational
Church—
Its First Hundred Ijears
1831 — 1931
A RECORD ASSEMBLED BY
THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE
ELLA WARREN HARRISON
PAULINE SCHENK
JESSIE A. PHELPS
CARRIE DUNBAR
OLIVE PIERCE
F. W. STEWART
S. T. BRIGHAM
Published March, 1931,
Princeton, Illinois
PRESS OF
The Bureau County Record,
Princeton, Illinois
&>
Foreword
In collecting material for this history much use
has been made of papers written for various anniver-
saries by Mrs. Julia R. Phelps, Mrs. Clara R. Norton,
Mrs. Emily S. Colton, Dr. Flavel Bascom, Rev. E. G.
Smith and Mr. Elijah Smith, an old diary of Mr. Chaun-
cey D. Colton and a few old letters. The authors of
these have long been dead. The record books of the
Church have furnished definite dates and present day
knowledge has brought the work up to date.
All of those who preached and prayed in the old
days have gone to be with the Lord. Most of the next
generation have followed them. What they won with
toil and tears we have inherited, but surely death did
not destroy their interest in and love for the old
church. If Heaven rejoices over a repentant sinner,
then heavenly citizens must know something about
earthly events.
"Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight and the sins that so easily beset us and run
with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith", and be able to
say to them some day, "We have faithfully carried on
the work that you began."
I 008225
^cknoipledgments
There is no enterprise which has not behind it
some guiding mind. This volume owes its exis-
tence principally to the vision of one who has long
been a vital force in the church. To Ella W. Har-
rison the church gratefully acknowledges its in-
debtedness for the greater part, both spirit and
substance, of this volume.
To the Historical Committee sincere thanks
are expressed for the careful research that makes
this record authentic.
To T. A. Fenoglio, who has successfully man-
aged the financing of this publication, the church
owes a debt of gratitude.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to those
who have given of their time and service transcrib-
ing page after page of manuscript: Edna B. An-
derson, Gerda Bouxsein, Vivian Conkling, Helen
Eastman, T. A. Fenoglio, Gilbert Oberschelp, Edith
Sharp, Ethel Sharp, Frances Spaulding, Hazel
Wickey.
Table of Contents
In the Beginning
Page
1
The Faith of Our Fathers
- 33
The House of Worship
43
The Work of the Kingdom
57
The Secular Affairs of the Church
99
Laborers in the Vineyard
107
The Members of the Church
141
Echoes of a Century -
171
In the Beginning
EARLY HISTORY
THE INDEPENDENT
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
THE DOVER CHURCH
THESE ALSO SERVED
DONATION PARTIES OF YORE
MEMORIES OF AN OLD MAN
PRAYER OF OWEN LOVEJOY
IN THE BEGINNING
EARLY HISTORY
1831 - 1835
In the early years of the nineteenth century New Eng-
land people were greatly interested in the little known
west. Men who returned from investigating tours told
wonderful tales of fertile soil unencumbered by stones or
trees, government land that could be purchased unbelieve-
ably cheap. Young men were advised to "go west and
grow up with the country." On February 9, 1831, the fol-
lowing notice appeared in the Hampshire Gazette:
"ILLINOIS COLONIAL ASSOCIATION
A meeting of the above association
will be holden at
WARNER'S COFFEE HOUSE,
Northampton, (Massachusetts)
on Wednesday, the 16th at 10:00 A. M.
Persons desirous of uniting with them are invited
to attend this meeting.
Per order of Committee.
D. B. Jones, Sec'y."
February 23, 1831, this meeting is reported: "At a
meeting of the Illinois Colonial Association held at Warner's
Coffee House, last week, it was agreed by a number of as-
sociates to remove to some part of that state in the ensu-
ing spring. Some of the principles of the association by
which its members are governed may be understood by the
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
following preamble to their constitution adopted at this
meeting :
'Whereas the subject of settling the valley of the Mississippi
by colonies of industrious and moral men from the Atlantic
States is viewed to be of vast importance to the future of the
inhabitants of that valley and to the common good of our country
by many of the sons of the Pilgrim Fathers of New England,
and —
'Whereas a number of persons in the old county of Hamp-
shire are desirous of emigrating to some part of the State of
Illinois for the purpose of better providing for themselves and
their families, provided the privileges of a social, moral and relig-
ious character which they have now, and which they highly value,
can be made secure to them in their future residence;
'Now, Therefore, for the purpose of accomplishing the above
objects, the undersigned do form themselves into an association
and adopt the following constitution.' "
Unfortunately the constitution has been lost. The idea
of organizing a church before going west had taken strong
hold of some minds. Ebenezer Strong Phelps, a deacon
in the Northampton church, was prime man in this. Cir-
culars were sent out stating that "it was not so much to
promote the private interests of its members as to advance
the cause of Christ by planting religious institutions in
the virgin soil of the west and aiding the cause of Christian
education in its various departments." When a number
of people had offered themselves as candidates for member-
ship in this emigrant church a council was called to act
upon the proposition. The following are the minutes of the
council :
"Northampton, March 23, 1831.
"An ecclesiastical council was convened at the house of Dea.
Ebenezer S. Phelps by letters received from certain persons desir-
ous of being organized into a Congregational church previous to
their removal to the Western Country. Rev. S. Williams and
Rev. I. S. Spencer, pastors of the church at Northampton, and
brother Lewis Strong delegate. Rev. Lyman Coleman, pastor of
the church at Belchertown, and Deacon I. Towne, Delegate, and
Rev. Benj. H. Pitman, Pastor of the Church at Putney, Vt., were
present as members of the council. Rev. H. Pitman was chosen
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Moderator and Rev. L. Coleman, Scribe. Prayer was offered by
Moderator. The following persons there presented letters cer-
tifying to their regular membership with their respective Christian
churches and recommending them to be received into the church
proposed to be organized by this council. Deacon Ebenezer S.
Phelps and Anne, his wife, from Northampton, Amos C. Morse
and Lucinda, his wife, Elisha Woods and Abigail, his wife, and
Samuel Brown and Daniel Brown from the church at Belcher-
town. Doctor Nathaniel Chamberlain from the church at Putney,
Vt., Levi Jones and Louise, his wife, from the South church at
Amherst, John Leonard from the church at Warwick; Alvah
Whitmarsh and Naomi, his wife, from the first church at Spring-
field; Maria Lyman from the first church at South Hadley; and
Elijah Smith, Clarissa Childs and Sylvia Childs from the church
at Conway. Daniel Brown and Louisa Jones were absent. The
others then present submitted to the council a Confession of the
Faith and Convenant which were approved by the council where-
upon, it was voted to proceed immediately to the house of public
worship to organize the proposed church and that the services be
performed as follows: that Rev. Mr. Coleman offer the introduc-
tory prayer; that Rev. Mr. Spencer deliver the Sermon and that
the Confession of Faith and Love must be presented to the
church; that the fellowship of the churches be expressed and the
concluding prayer be offered by Rev. Pitman.
"Proceeded to the house of worship where the services were per-
formed according to announcement and the above named persons
there present were duly constituted a Church styled the Hamp-
shire Colony Church. Voted to adopt the above as the record of
the doings of this council and adjourn.
Benj. H. Pitman, Moderator.
(A true copy.) Attest: L. Coleman, Scribe."
This council was held in the forenoon. In the afternoon,
after the organization of the church, the Rev. Ichabod
Spencer preached a sermon on the text "Fear not little
flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
Kingdom." After the sermon the Lord's Supper was ad-
ministered to a large congregation of communicants. It
was a session of peculiar solemnity and called forth deep
sympathy from all who attended the long session. A col-
lection of $54.00 was taken to supply the new church with
vessels for the communion table. The Hon. Lewis Strong,
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
delegate from the Northampton church to this council,
said, "The meeting house, at the organization was thronged
and the public services, conducted mainly by Dr. Spencer
himself, were of the most thrilling interest. Never shall
we entirely forget the wise counsels he imparted to that
little company of believers, nor the earnestness with which
he implored, in their behalf, the blessing of God, nor the
melting of hearts throughout every portion of that great
assembly, as in their name and with deep devotion he bade
the departing ones a final and most affectionate adieu."
The spiritual influence of this movement was very evi-
dent when one hundred and thirty newly converted young
people met in the pastor's home for a last good-bye to the
Pilgrims. Quoting from Dr. Bascom's and Rev. E. G.
Smith's papers written for the fiftieth anniversary: "They
did not all come west at the same time or by the same route.
The main body of the colony met in Albany and embarked
in a canal boat, the 7th of May 1831, with Cotton Mather
of Hadley, for Captain." We are not surprised that such a
company of passengers and a captain with a name so ven-
erable and historic should enter into contract not to travel
on the Sabbath.
The first Sabbath they spent in Amsterdam, probably
without any design of imitating their Pilgrim Fathers, who
made Amsterdam, in Holland, their first resting place after
leaving Old England. They held religious services on board
their boat, which attracted the attention and excited the
curiosity of citizens. The captain's explanation to curious
inquiries was that he had a company of missionaries on
board. The next Sabbath found them in Buffalo. They had
expected to find a schooner there, bound for Chicago, but
were disappointed. Taking a steamboat to Detroit, they
there found a schooner about sailing for Chicago, but could
not find room on board for themselves or their goods. They
contracted for their goods to be taken on the next trip, two
or three months afterwards, and they set out by land with
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
hired teams for Chicago. Leaving Detroit Monday morning,
May 25, they spent the next Sabbath at Sturgis' Prairie.
While there, one pair of their hired horses died, compelling
the eight young men of the company to travel on foot.
Having journeyed half a day in this manner, they all arrived
at Mottville, on the St. Joseph river.
Up to this time they had no definite locality selected
for their future home. A Mr. Jones had come out the autumn
before to explore the country and find a suitable place, but
no definite report from him had reached them. But now
meeting a traveler from Illinois they learned that Mr. Jones
was at Bailey's Point, on the Vermillion River, where he had
built a double cabin for the reception and temporary accom-
modation of the colonists. Knowing now that their destin-
ation was near the Illinois River, the young men conceived
the plan of finishing their journey by water. They accord-
ingly purchased two canoes, lashed them together, put their
trunks aboard and embarked themselves for a trip down the
St. Joseph. It is a rapid stream, and they reached the port-
age, a distance of sixty-five miles, in twelve hours. Here
they hired an ox team to transport themselves, their canoes
and baggage five miles to a swamp or lake which is the
source of the Kankakee, one of the branches which form the
Illinois river.
From that point to Ottawa, they were told, was 160
miles. They expected to make that distance in three or four
days, and laid in provisions accordingly. Reembarking on
Tuesday afternoon, they soon found navigation on the
Kankakee Swamp and River much less rapid than on the St.
Joseph. Saturday night overtook them some distance above
the point where the Kankakee and DesPlaines unite to form
the Illinois. An appearance of rain induced them to tie up
to a tree for the night. When they awoke Sunday morning
they found themselves lying in several inches of water in
the bottom of their boats. After building a fire and drying
their clothes, they reluctantly decided to travel that Sabbath
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
day, for the first time on their journey. Their provisions
were exhausted, and their only rations for some time had
been slippery elm and bass-wood bark, and they knew not
how distant might be a human habitation, where food could
be obtained. Sunday night they spent on shore in a drench-
ing rain. Monday morning they embarked again under a
clear sky, and soon reached an Indian encampment. There
they applied in vain for food. Pressing onward, they heard
a cow bell in the distance. Leaving the river and ascending
the bluff, they found a cabin occupied by a white family,
who could give them nothing but mush and milk. To prepare
this the woman shelled some corn and ground it in a small
hand mill. When the mush was made the young men did
not relish it, and they ate just enough to increase rather
than appease their hunger. Learning that it was now twen-
ty miles to Ottawa, they pushed forward, expecting to find
a hotel where they determined to rest and make up in good
fare for all their privations. About sunset they saw a cabin
on the south side of the river, and on inquiring how far it
was to Ottawa, they were told, "This is Ottawa." And all
the luxuries that that city could supply were mush and milk
with some honey, and a puncheon floor for a bed ! Proceed-
ing down the river, the next day, they arrived at a point
opposite the present city of LaSalle. It was called Shipping
Port or Crosier's Ferry and was a distance of only eight miles
from Bailey's Point, their destination. That distance they
soon traveled on foot and at Mr. Jones' double cabin they
found the other part of their company, from whom they had
separated in Michigan. These last had arrived the same
day, only a few hours in advance. This was the nineth day
of June, five weeks and two days from the commencement
of the journey. The portion of the colony that had contin-
ued with teams found the journey to Chicago exceedingly
dreary and fatiguing. With much difficulty and vexatious
delay, they procured other teams at Chicago to take them
the remaining 100 miles to Bailey's Point. Nothing occurred
8
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
to break the monotony of this stage of their journey till
they reached the Vermillion River. It was so swollen
by rains that the passengers dared not ford it in their wa-
gons. They found a ferry man with a log canoe or dug-out
who took them across one by one, requiring them to recline
on the bottom of the boat lest he upset it. At the Jones cabin
they all remained some time to recuperate and gain such
information as should decide the question of their future
homes.
On the twelfth of June, the first Sunday after their ar-
rival in Illinois, a meeting was held in a log cabin in a set-
tlement called Lowell, near the Big Vermillion Creek. On
July 2, 1831 having agreed, finally, in accordance with the
advice of their agent to locate on the prairie east and south
of Bureau Creek they set out for that place across a trackless
prairie. Dr. Nathaniel Chamberlin and Eli and Elijah
Smith joined in buying a horse and two yoke of oxen, to re-
move their families and goods across the Illinois River to
Princeton (then called Greenfield). The second day they
found the prairie, west of where Peru now is, so wet as to
be almost impassable. Finally leaving their wagon stalled
in a creek their guide undertook to pilot them to Epperson's
cabin, to spend the night. Failing in the darkness to find
it, they spread their blankets in a hazel thicket on East
Bureau, near Maiden and slept under the open sky. The next
day they started again. The order of their procession is
said, by Elijah Smith, to have been thus, — Dr. Chamberlin
took Mrs. Eli Smith on the horse behind him, Elijah Smith
mounted on an ox with his wife behind him, Eli Smith on
another ox with Major Chamberlin behind him. Thus they
made their way to the log cabin of James Foristall, about
two miles north of Dover.
The first entry in the old church record book reads as
follows: — "The Hampshire Colony Church of Christ founded
at Northampton, Mass., March 23, 1831, settled on the Bu-
reau River, County of Putnam, State of Illinois, July 6th,
9
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
1831 and named the town Greenfield. The only members of
said church that arrived at the above time were Nathaniel
Chamberlin, Elijah Smith and his wife, Sylvia, and Mrs. Eli
Smith." Other detachments came later by different routes.
Deacon Phelps and family and Mr. Moore and family came
the latter part of the summer by way of the Ohio Canal,
down the Ohio and up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers,
sending their goods by way of New Orleans. Deacon Phelps
and family spent seven years in Springfield before they
came to Princeton. Mr. Morse located in Jacksonville, Illi-
nois. He died in October, 1831. Elisha Wood came to Illi-
nois in 1832 and spent two years in Tazewell County be-
fore making a home here. Mr. and Mrs. Whitmarsh did not
come until 1841.
At the Fiftieth Anniversary Elijah Smith said: "After
arriving on the Bureau we were located some miles part.
We had no way of traveling except by a cart made of the
four wheels of a wagon with a small platform, drawn by the
patient ox, so we did not have meetings regularly, even on
Sunday. In October 1831, as I was at work building my log
cabin, two or three miles north of Princeton, about two
o'clock P. M., Deacon E. S. Phelps and Dr. N. Chamberlin
came to hold a church meeting for the transaction of busi-
ness and prayer. After electing a deacon to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Mr. Morse, we had a session of
prayer. While kneeling on the cold damp ground, interceed-
ing with our Heavenly Father for his blessing to accompany
our feeble efforts in planting the standard of the cross, on
this virgin soil, we could almost hear our dear Saviour say
Tear not, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom.' At a meeting on November 21, 1831, a letter was
granted to one of the colony who for a time located else-
where. Four members were present but only one voted,
since women did not then have the privilege. On the first
Sabbath in May, 1832, services were held in the cabin of
Eli and Elijah Smith and at the same time a concert of
10
The following record supports the opinion of many that this wood
cut shows in the background the rear view of the first church.
The Hampshire Colony Church as described in "The Tax Payers
and Voters of Bureau County, Illinois", published in 1877 by H. F.
Kett & Co.:
"In the fall of 1835 the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church
was built on the public square south of where the courthouse now
stands. This was a two-story frame structure raised high above the
ground on wooden blocks, painted white, and made an imposing ap-
pearance. Deacon Elijah Wood built this church under a contract for
six hundred and fifty dollars, completing the outside only, and for
two years it was not plastered. A rough board pulpit and slab seats
were used. This building was a great curiosity to Indians, who
styled it 'the big wigwam', and it was equally so to travelers passing
through the country, it being the only church on the road between
Peoria and Chicago; and if we except a small one at Ottawa, it was
the only one west of Chicago. This building paid a double debt,
being used not only for religious meetings, but for a school, a town
hall, a court-room and a place for holding abolition state conventions,
etc. In 1848 this building was moved to the southeast corner of the
public square, now belonging to Justus Stevens and used for a barn."
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
prayer for the conversion of the world. Before time for an-
other meeting the Black Hawk War had begun and we were
obliged to flee to a place of safety."
The Home Missionary Magazine for February, 1834
contains this item : "Rev. Theron Baldwin on a tour through
northern Illinois visited the Bureau settlement. When he
preached a sermon he found the people desirous of having a
a minister. They agreed to circulate a subscription paper
and see how much they could raise for the support of one.
Bro. Farnham starts Monday to visit the places."
The same publication for May, 1834, contains a letter
from the Rev. L. Farnham at Bureau Settlement. He says :
"On the first of last month (Feb. 1834) we had a com-
munion session. Brother Kirby assisted me. Six were ad-
mitted to the church on certificate and others would have
united but had not letters. This was the first session of this
kind which the little church has enjoyed in this remote land.
God had indeed spread a table for them in the wilderness."
In the fall of 1834 Mr. Farnham again visited the
church and says : "We found the little church alive and they
received us gladly. In many ways they have been highly
favored of the Lord. The settlement has greatly increased
and has been remarkably healthy. They had not had a ser-
mon from a preacher since I left, but they had regularly
kept up a meeting on the Sabbath, the monthly concert for
prayer, and the Sabbath school. We had communion session
in December. Fourteen more were added to the church so
that the membership is now twenty-four. We are making
an attempt to build a meeting house and I am confident the
Lord will help us through. We meet now in a private house
and it is crowded every Sabbath. Many more would come
if we had a house large enough to accommodate them. The
church is doing all they are able to do and some who do not
belong to the church have shown commendable liberality."
The "frame church" was built by 1835 and Rev. Lucian
Farnham was called to be pastor of the church. At last the
11
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
"colony church" was established in the "far west", with a
meeting house, a pastor and a growing membership. While
the Kingdom had not yet been given it, the future looked
bright with promise.
The following is quoted directly from a paper prepared
and read by Rev. Edwin G. Smith, D. D., on the Seventieth
Anniversary of the Hampshire Colony Congregational
Church, Princeton, Illinois, March 28, 1901: "After the
Black Hawk War war cloud had passed over, Febru-
ary, 1834, the church held its first sacramental sea-
son, Rev. Lucian Farnham had commenced his good work
with them; six members united with them. Among them
Deacon Reeve of blessed memory, and Joel Doolittle and
Nathaniel Chamberlin, Jr., and their wives brought strength
and cheer to the little flock. Soon afterward Asher Doolit-
tle and family, C. D. Colton and others came. The next year
brought quite a reinforcement to their numbers and
strength. Deacon Alby Smith and family and other Gouver-
neur colonists were a great help and encouragement to the
church in July, 1835.
"That season the first Congregational house of worship
in Illinois was built and with it an academical school building
in true New England and Pilgrim style. From this date the
church and school took on new beauty and strength. From
Mr. Triplett's hotel the church graduated to its new and
commodious home and from the log cabin the school house
ascended to the lower story of the church building. Other
interests kept pace as usual with church and school, and
these pioneer enterprizes were but the forerunners of many
good things.
"It is no small honor to the pioneers of such a house-
hold of faith as now greets us in the Congregational Year
Book. At least two thousand Congregational Churches of
the Pilgrim Polity in and west of Chicago are following the
wake of the old Colony church. Says Dr. Bascom in his his-
torical sketch (alluded to in the part not quoted.) 'Let it be
12
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
remembered that this fragment of the Hampshire Colony
church, so afflicted yet not forsaken, cast down but not de-
stroyed, was for two years of its history, all there was of or-
ganized Congregationalism in Illinois.' And if in Illinois,
surely in the west and northwest. This is honor enough for
this occasion. But we have more to our credit near home.
This church is preeminently a 'mother church/ She has a
beautiful daughter near by that we heard from last night.
One especially dear to us, viz, Dover, doubly dear to me as
my first pastorate, and numbers near by and farther away
that we have mothered. And we have a dear sister near by
evolved from that little 'family jar.' None the less dear be-
cause in the evolution she became a strong Presbyterian
church. It has been a Congregational habit to do this in
the past.
"But we have other things to glory in. This church was
the pioneer in the anti-slavery reform. The Princeton Con-
gregational church was a city set on a hill in this regard and
its clear light shone far and wide. Its pastor was the Tlumed
Knight' in this great struggle. Here also the Emanci-
pation Proclamation had its inception and its first public
advocates from the pulpit and from the pen, according to
Rev. H. L. Hammond. Here the township high school had
its origin in our state. Such men as Bryant, Bascom and
Boltwood pioneered it. Then Knox College had some of its
first students from abroad from here. A member of the
first graduating class was from this church and of the sec-
ond and of many subsequent classes. But I forbear lest we
should glory over much. It behooves us on this joyous an-
niversary occasion at the dawn of the new century with
grateful hearts and earnest purposes to gird on anew the
armor and to strive for greater and better things in the
future. God grant that we may be 'steadfast, unmovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord'."
13
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THE INDEPENDENT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
(NOW THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF PRINCETON.)
In the early days of this church, slavery was a much
discussed topic. Mr. Farnham was a strong abolitionist, as
were many of the church members. From the pulpit on the
Sabbath, and the pews in the prayer meetings, the "rights
of man" were continually advocated. This at last became un-
bearable to a number of pro-slavery members, and on Oct.
24, 1837 twenty-four of them asked for letters to form an-
other Congregational Church. After mature deliberation
the church adopted the following preamble and resolution:
"Whereas, the above named persons, members of the Hamp-
shire Colony Congregational Church at Princeton, Bureau
County, Illinois, being desirous to go out from us, not consider-
ing themselves of us, have this day asked dismission from our
church, not giving any scriptural reason why they thus ask dis-
mission from our church, and as they have already associated
themselves with another body of men to build up a church and
society more congenial with their views and feelings than what
they now enjoy in our church, as they say,
Therefore, Resolved that the aforesaid members have their
request granted them and whenever they shall form themselves
into a church of Christ founded on the Apostles and Prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, we shall no
longer consider them as under our watch and care and will
conduct ourselves toward them accordingly."
For long months a coolness existed between the two
churches, but on May 2, 1840, it was voted "that we receive
the First Independent Congregational Church of Princeton
into fellowship with us agreeable to a discussion of the
Association". On January 13, 1841, Deacon E. S. Phelps,
Deacon L. Reeve and C. S. Allen were appointed a com-
mittee to confer with the other Congregational Church
about uniting the two churches. The records contain no
further reference to the matter. Many times this union
has been discussed in both churches, but as yet no definite
action has been taken. They have worked in perfect har-
mony for years and there seems to be no valid reason why
they should not sometime become one strong church,
14
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE DOVER CHURCH
"March 14, 1838.
"To the Pastor and Members of the Hampshire Colony
Congregational Church, at Princeton. Greetings: —
"Reverend and Beloved: — We the subscribers living at
such a distance from your place of worship as to render it
very inconvenient to attend regularly, on the means of
grace with you and believing that the Glory of God, the
interests of Christ's Kingdom and our own individual good
would be promoted, do hereby respectfully request letters
of dismission and recommendation from your particular
watch and care for the purpose of such an organization.
Yours,
Sylvester Brigham
Joseph Brigham
Eliza Brigham
W. Pool
0. A. Smith
Lyman Stowel
Amanda Stowel"
These were charter members of the Dover Church, an
unusually spiritual and benevolent body of believers. It
has sent out many efficient workers and its contributions
to church work have been surprisingly large. The Dover
church enjoys the reputation of being a "Model Church".
15
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THESE ALSO SERVED
When the Union Army invaded the Old South during
the Civil War, it was related that a negro boy stood peer-
ing through the tumbledown rail fence by the roadside,
listening spellbound to the tramp, tramp, tramp of the
Boys in Blue. Dazed and mystified by their numbers, as
the long line vanished in the hazy morning light, the negro
boy was heard to murmur, "Has you all got names?"
Names of the Christian soldiers of the Hampshire Colony
Congregational Church of Princeton, Illinois, not enumer-
ated in this record and known by too few of the rapidly
depleting ranks, who, by word of mouth can tell us of the
lives of comrades — many names omitted here will be en-
rolled as "the blessed angel turns the pages of our years."
Before it is too late this occasion furnishes an oppor-
tunity to place among the records of the First Congrega-
tional Church of Princeton, Illinois, some few of these
names. Those mentioned may not have known "what
argument their lives to their neighbors' creed had lent,"
but they also served.
As an appropriate setting for this record, I have
chosen to quote from a letter written for publication to the
Bureau County Republican, in 1905, by Lewis Colton, son-
in-law of Ebenezer Strong Phelps, with whom originated
the idea of forming the Hampshire Colony Church in old
Massachusetts, to be transplanted to the prairies of Illinois.
Mr. Colton writes from Leavenworth, Kansas, and uses as
his subject:
HOW THE CONGREGATION WAS SEATED
IN THE OLD CHURCH
"As a child I had my seat up in the old gallery from which
vantage ground, Sabbath after Sabbath, I watched the moving
panorama below. In those days the pews were sold and usual-
ly to the same one, year after year. I could have told it was
wrong if the Leepers and Deacon Lazarus Reeve had gone into
the pews on the south of and facing the end of the pulpit,
16
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
while Cyrus Bryant's, James Everett's and John Bubach's
families took those on the north side of the pulpit. I looked for
those to take seats in the south wall pews in the order of Doc-
tor Anthony, Egbert Norton's, Sidney Smith's, Mr. Egbert
Colton's, Deacon Caleb Cook's, Edward Winship's and Elijah
Smith's families. Across the aisle I could see the families of
Doctor Converse, Mr. Curtis, Sr., John Crittenden, John De-
lano, Stephen G. Paddock, Rufus Carey, Seth Clapp, Cyrus Col-
ton, McCayga Triplett. Occupying the other half of the body
seats came always on the very front seat, Mrs. Keyes and
daughters, and back of her, Deacon Ebenezer Strong Phelps,
Charles Phelps, Chauncey Colton, James Smith and the Har-
risons, Hinsdale Phelps, Egbert Curtis, Sr., Otis Dunbar, Joel
Doolittle, the Pendletons and Proutys.
"On the other wall seats there were first, Horace Winship's,
Noah Wiswall's, the Lovejoy family, Elijah Dee's, John Bry-
ant's, Lewis Colton's, S. D. Hindale's and Sam Dunbar's fami-
lies. Other regular attendants were seated more promiscuous-
ly but, in the main, you could go into the church any Sabbath
morning in the fifties and early sixties and find them all seat-
ed the same.
"In those days the men all attended church. The doors of the
pews bore the name of each one and opened and closed for the
right families only. Not often did they admit an outsider. Each
Sabbath morning two tall, slender men rose from each side and
passed the hat. I wondered, in my child mind, if it were be-
cause these two men were so near alike, so dignified and sober
that they must needs preside at the communion table. Doctor
Anthony and James Smith might have been brothers."
From the cursory records available we glean that
Deacon Ebenezer Strong Phelps brought seven children
with him, four girls and three boys. He and Mr. Morse
came by way of the Ohio canal, Ohio river, up the Missis-
sippi and Illinois rivers, to Springfield, Illinois. They sent
their goods by way of New Orleans. They arrived in
Springfield, July 26, 1831. Deacon Lazarus Reeve was
deacon from 1840 to 1887, deacon emeritus from 1887 to
1893 — a period of fifty-three years. Regarding him I
quote from a paper written by Mrs. Emily Colton to com-
memorate the sixtieth anniversary of this church : "I can
17
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
see Deacon Reeve as I saw him first on the third of July,
1835, sitting on a board with a little child on his lap. He
was very modest, so much so, that when appointed deacon
in 1840, he requested to be excused from serving, quoting
several pasages of scripture to show his reasons for declin-
ing. The church, after postponing the matter for a week,
voted to give him lief to withdraw his request." Louisa
Reeve, wife of Deacon Lazarus Reeve, was a member from
1836 to 1901, sixty-five years, and their daughter, Clara
Reeve Norton, from 1841 to 1906, sixty-five years. She
was a strong character and an energetic worker in the
church and vigorously upheld its traditions.
Again quoting from Mrs. Emily Colton's notes: —
"Brother Eli Smith, as we called him, was one who
was always at meeting and ready to testify for Christ.
Doctor Chamberlin always had his own views and express-
ed them decidedly, but if the brethren differed from him
he acquiesced gracefully, saying, 'Very well, very well, do
as you think best.' Doctor William C. Anthony was deacon
thirty-eight years. When the seventieth anniversary of
the church was observed not one of the original charter
members was living. One child of a charter member, the
youngest of Deacon Ebenezer Strong Phelps' children, Mrs.
Lucinda Bubach, only one and one-half years old at the
time of the journey from Northampton, was living in
Princeton when the seventieth anniversary was commem-
orated. She had been a member of the church fifty years
at that time. The eldest son, E. Hinsdale Phelps, was a
member sixty-four years. (Died 1899). Mrs. Elijah Bry-
ant, mother of Sue Bryant Ferris, was a granddaughter of
Asher Doolittle, who united with the church in 1834, dur-
ing the pastorate of Reverend Farnham. Several in the
church at the seventieth anniversary were children of
those who united in 1835. Alby and Sally Hyde Smith and
their son, Edwin G. Smith, and their daughter, Emily
Smith Colton, were among the number."
18
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Edwin G. Smith, a graduate of Knox College in its
first class, 1846, served the American Bible Society for
years and was a well known figure in this church; he fre-
quently addressed the congregation from its pulpit in be-
half of his life work for the Kingdom. Emily Smith Col-
ton and her husband, Chauncey D. Colton, — who served
the church as clerk for twenty-six years, also as deacon and
trustee for many years, — were untiring in their work for
both the church and the Sunday school. Theirs was a home
of Christian culture, their sons were college bred, and the
staunch Christian influence of the Colton fireside per-
meated the community life. Another daughter of Alby
Smith, Mrs. Sarah Harrison, united in 1836. Her son,
Richard Harrison, is now a deacon of this church. Mrs.
Lucia Bascom was a daughter of Egbert Colton, who
joined this church in 1835.
Mrs. Julia R. Phelps, historian for the seventieth
anniversary celebration, says: "Her husband, Charles P.
Bascom, is held in grateful remembrance for his cheer-
ful readiness to do whatever he could for the church,
whether as trustee or Sunday school teacher for a class
of young ladies or in supporting one part in the choir
while Clarence Delano carried the opposite side. John
Leeper's name was found in our list in 1835 and his son,
Harvey B. Leeper, was made deacon in 1878 and was
pronounced a very handy man to have around when the
prayer meeting lagged. Mrs. Louise C. Olds belongs with
this list; she was the only sister of John Howard Bryant
and her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Mathews, was a guest of
the church on its seventieth anniversary. I haven't dared
begin the list of those who joined this church in 1836
least I weary your patience and therefore some highly
honored names must be content to remain for the future
historian to mention."
From memory and from some definite facts gleaned
from meager records, I again present a picture of the con-
19
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
gregation as it regularly assembled during the pastorate
of Doctor Richard Edwards, 1875 to 1884, — years which
witnessed a working community church at its best. In
this grouping we do not have the advantage of the regu-
lar seat holders year after year occupying the same seats
to guide us, though many of the congregation did keep
their regular pews. Many descendants of the families
enumerated in the fifties and sixties were regular at-
tendants through this period. Here gathered Sabbath
after Sabbath, John Walters, father of Mrs. Egbert Cur-
tis, whose prayers were a part of his very being and pour-
ed from his lips as easily as gather the dews of evening;
Deacon Lazarus Reeve, father of Mrs. Clara Norton,
modest, considerate, dependable, was still here. In Novem-
ber 1833, Clara Reeve, afterward Clara Norton, came with
her parents to the Bryant cabin. She writes : "The Cham-
berlin family with Mrs. Flint and her daughter were here
then, and the Moseleys and the Musgroves on the prairie
were our neighbors. I remember that our mother thought
she had found good company."
Remember when you walk down old South Street, now
Park Avenue West, that the large elms there were set by
Egbert Norton, son-in-law of Deacon Reeve, and by A. J.
Haviland, in the spring of 1847. Remember also that we
owe the trees in the Congregational church yard to Betsey
Crittenden, mother of Mrs. Ella C. Dexter. The trees
from the Eckels home to the Court House on the east
side of the street are due to the energy of Mrs. Curtis,
Sr., mother of Egbert and Jennie Curtis and to Mrs. Mar-
tha Delano, mother of the late Clarence Delano. Both Mrs.
Curtis, Sr., and Mrs. Martha Delano died in the late 70's.
In an article entitled "Historic Review of Princeton"
written by Mrs. Clara Norton in 1879, we find the above
information, also the following: "Harriet Wiswall, one
of our sisters, applied for a position during the Civil War
as nurse and was accepted. She followed up the battles
20
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
with her wine and stores, sent to her from our Princeton
Society, nursed soldiers in the barracks and hospitals, —
in fact, gave her life for her country. It is fitting to add
that before the next summer, 1862, Dr. S. A. Paddock,
Captain F. B. Ferris, Lieutenant Wright Seamon and Major
N. B. Page were brought home and laid in our beautiful
Cemetery."
To return to the Sunday congregation: Here were
Mrs. Elijah Bryant and family, Mrs. Bryant — a daughter
of Sidney Smith. With her calm, winning smile she was
beloved by all the people. The Everett girls were staunch
and intellectual and highly appreciated for their genuine
worth. The last of the family, Miss Mary Everett, died
just recently (1930). Mrs. Mary Jones, the mother of
Mrs. Louise J. Mosely, was a regular attendant and was
always a liberal supporter, not forgetting to assist the
younger groups to meet their quota on church pledges. She
was a remarkable woman with a very unusual memory and
lived to the age of 101 years. Mr. and Mrs. Egbert Curtis
always welcomed strangers and stood for the best in the
church and community life. Mrs. Curtis' work lives on
in the worthy activities of the Elizabeth Curtis Guild.
What a noble tribute! Few were the Sunday mornings
that found vacant the pews occupied by Mrs. Worthing-
ton, also a Curtis, or Miss Jennie Curtis, who was for years
a teacher and long the secretary of the Sunday school. A
regular attendant also was Nan Walters, whose rich alto
voice will be remembered by many. Regular attendants
also were Mrs. Seth Clapp and Mrs. Lemuel Carey. They
were sisters and practical saints who liberally contributed
to the church and with equal liberality gave themselves
to rearing and educating several young people whose ma-
ture lives are doing noble credit to their early Christian
environment. Mr. and Mrs. Nat. Simons were helpers with
the music and Mrs. Simons was long a quiet worker in the
women's organizations. Some still remember Mrs. Mary
21
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Talbot Dunbar, mother of Camilla Dunbar Richardson and
Mary Dunbar Ferris, also mother of Charlie Dunbar, a
figure in the church and community life for over fifty
years. Charlie Dunbar was known and appreciated, far
and wide, by young and old alike. His Sunday school class
in the Congregational Church was historic. The John
Richardson family, the Harry Ferris family, the Parker
Newells, the Gilman T. Smiths were present regularly.
Their devoted activities permeate the history of the various
church organizations through many fruitful years.
No mention of the organization, during these years,
would be complete without the following: — Mrs. Lydia An-
thony, a worker and staunch believer, whose responses in
the church services still reverberate in the memories of
many of us ; Mr. and Mrs. Catlin Cook, who gave and pray-
ed and gave still more to the work of the Kingdom ; Mr. and
Mrs. Geo. R. Phelps, whose church life always came first;
Dr. and Mrs. E. J. Schenk and family, liberal givers and
earnest helpers in all needful enterprises; Mrs. Lydia
Smith, mother of J. Clyde Smith — in later years she be-
came Mrs. Solomon Robinson. Her faith never failed and
her helpful interest in her church never flagged.
We recall, also, Mrs. James Ellis and daughters, one of
whom, Miss Orpha, so faithfully and quietly helpful, is still
carrying on. Miss Mary Denham, daughter of Mrs. Owen
Lovejoy, was ever loyal to the family traditions and to the
support of the Congregational Church of Princeton.
Always faithful prayerful workers and regular attend-
ants were the Winships, the Pendletons, the Porters, the
Morrises, the Hinsdale Phelps — not leaders, but thinkers
and doers, everyday Christians whose places are hard to
fill. We would not omit the family of our pastor, Dr. Rich-
ard Edwards — his loyal, well-poised wife, his gifted daugh-
ters, the Misses Nellie and Mary, fine minds and personali-
ties; his sons, Nicholas and George; all were workers in
their father's church and parish, while the two younger
22
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
children, Florence and Owen, loved their childhood in
Princeton and have returned occasionally to visit their old
haunts.
Remembered among the congregation, though not
members of the church, but generous contributors and fre-
quent attendants, were Mr. John H. Bryant, Mr. and Mrs.
E. C. Bates, Mrs. Mary Latimer and daughters, the Misses
Mary and Alice Latimer, the Whipples, the Charles Bald-
wins, the Richard Skinner family and others. The children
from many of these families attended the Sunday school
and their lives have been fondly followed by many faithful
workers in the Princeton Congregational Church.
I can, in memory, see Dr. Edwards in the pulpit on
Sunday mornings as he stood before his congregation, em-
phasizing his scholarly well written sermons with an occa-
sional "so I think, brethren and sisters, so I think," as he
rose for an instant on his toes then came firmly down on
his heels for still further emphasis. It was a stirring sight
and a thrilling experience for the young people to mingle
with this fine audience as it touched elbows in the wide
center aisle, ushered out by the strong, almost martial music
of Sam Bowlby's pipe organ postlude. More recent history
is largely covered by the reports of the various church or-
ganizations and is better classified. As I record the above
mentioned names, some of whom I am gratefully thankful
to have known, they seem to say to us who still work on:
"Let us do our work as well,
Both the unseen and the seen,
Make the house where God may dwell
Beautiful, entire and clean."
Jessie A. Phelps.
September, 1930
23
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
DONATION PARTIES OF YORE
In our church a donation party was a celebration of
yearly occurrence, and usually in the fall after the har-
vest had been gathered and the crops brought in. These
parties were looked forward to with great anticipation and
interest. They were planned during Indian summer be-
fore the fall rains set in to make the roads all but im-
passable, which they often were either from mud or dust
which made the effort of getting to town a real under-
taking.
All details for the coming festival must be made on
the previous Sabbath for there were no telephones nor
other quick and convenient method of communication. To
spare a working horse, even if there was an idle boy
around, was not to be thought of. The committee had mat-
ters well in hand. What each family would bring in the
way of food to be eaten for supper the night of the gath-
ering, was definitely set down and a slip given to the head
of the families who had promised, because there must be
no mistake. A lack of food would be an eternal disgrace.
There are some amusing traditions of a certain woman
who knew how to squeeze a ham-bone, but didn't her hus-
band water his barrel of whiskey? Another tale, — though
I for one never believed it — was of one sister who took the
minister's wife a shirred plaid silk bonnet covered with a
green veil. But the veil was not thick enough to conceal
the combinations of colors underneath. If the dainty and
fastidious wife of the pastor found it difficult to be grac-
ious in her thanks, the children of the family could use it
in private theatricals.
What cooking was put into these feasts ! That is what
they were: Headcheese, sausages, ham, pork-roast with
applesauce, pies, cake, especially dough cake, and raised
doughnuts. Surely none such now a days! The Deacon
brought the apples, pop-corn and cider. More than his
24
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
share? Of course, but that was his way. And, if during
the year he neglected to leave his frequent supply of ap-
ples, nuts, especially black walnuts, at the parsonage, the
children did not hesitate to drive to his house to remind
him of the omission. Dear kindly Deacon! His reward
should be great and doubtless it is.
Ample as the supper was, there were packages mark-
ed 'Tor the minister to take home." In addition to food,
there were specimens of dainty needle work on night-gown,
chemise, and sometimes on those superfluous articles
known as pantalettes. Jokes and games were allowed on
the occasion of these parties. The writer remembers one
occasion when she was thoroughly frightened by what was
intended as only a pleasantry. She, a child of five or six,
was sitting on the floor munching one of the good deacon's
apples when another deacon called out: "Clear the track!"
At the same time he threw a large doll dressed as a negro
with a purple calico dress and a yellow turban directly in-
to the face and lap of the child, who gave forth shriek
after shriek, and refused to be comforted until the sister,
who was always first to help a child in trouble, gathered
the frightened youngster in her arms to be comforted by
a piece of loaf-sugar, that unusual treat. It was consid-
ered a rare joke that the child of a pronounced abolitionist
should be afraid of a negro in any shape.
Throughout the year these people were bound together
by the spirit of helpfulness. All the neighbors knew which
family was butchering; who was to have those unusual
guests, visitors from the east; whose turn it was to have
the dressmaker for the yearly sewing; who needed help to
get the hay under cover before the rain should spoil it. In
all emergencies the neighbors were on hand, but perhaps
sickness brought out the greatest amount of sympathy and
helpfulness. It was expected that the immediate family
could care for the patient during the day, but for night
service the neighbors would volunteer, and during long
25
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
sieges of fever the neighbors for miles around would con-
tinue this service. Appreciation for such kindness has been
handed down to the second and third generation.
Returning to the donation parties: When the evening
closed it was with music, which began with secular music
but ended with the grand old hymns with which all were
familiar. And last when the signal was given each bowed
his head to listen to a suitable and comforting prayer. Who
that ever heard that voice can ever forget its sweet, strong
magnetic and convincing quality? We of the family have
often heard of the Lovejoy eye, which was blue or black
according to the degree of excitement and the demands of
the occasion, but to me memory comes forward with echoes
of the most lovable, loving and far reaching voice of all
memories.
"And so beside the silent sea
I wait the muffled oar;
No harm from Him can come to me
On ocean or on shore.
"I know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift
Beyond His love and care."
Sophia Lovejoy Dickenson.
26
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
MEMORIES OF AN OLD MAN
January, 1930
The three buildings that I remember have stood on
the site where the present church stands; I have no recol-
lection of the building that stood somewhere south of the
Courthouse.
My first recollection of going to church is this: Some
member of the family said, "This will be the last Sunday."
That was good news to me. But no; it was only the last
Sunday that Father was to preach. I was greatly disap-
pointed to know that the Sabbath was to continue forever.
The opinions of a six year old boy are not weighty.
Every one went to church: none were too old, none
were too young; the old ones coughed, the young ones cried.
This church was oblong. The pulpit was at the west
end, the choir at the east end. The musical instrument
was not musical, only a melodeon. During the singing the
congregation rose, turned around facing the choir. The
principle feature of the choir was the Smith girls, daugh-
ters of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Smith. These sisters lived in
the country and were called "the prairie birds". One of
the pupils — a boy, of course — said, "It's a dull day in school
when the prairie birds are absent."
The box-stoves furnished what heat there was. In
winter these stoves became so hot that no one could get
near enough to warm himself. Stove pipes ran the length
of the room and dripped creosote. Many a good bonnet
was spoiled thereby.
The church service began at 10:30 and lasted till 12
o'clock. The sermon was sixty minutes long; a minister
who did not preach an hour did not earn his salary, which
was $600 a year. After the morning service there was an
intermission of an hour for lunch — there was no luncheon
in those days — then Sunday-school, then another sermon
and home for dinner. Everyone knew he had been to
church and that he had had enough. Later an evening serv-
27
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
ice was substituted for the afternoon session.
In this church each pew had a door which was nar-
row, too narrow. At this time hoop-skirts were becoming
fashionable; they were not adaptable to the narrow doors.
While these skirts were collapsible, they were not compres-
sible. The difficulty that a man might have getting into
Heaven, or a camel getting through the needle's eye was
nothing compared with getting a hoop-skirt through a pew
door.
There was one phase of going to church in which the
boys were active participants. At the west of the church
was a yard where the teams were hitched. With some of
these teams were young colts, and when the teams were
driven from the yard preparatory to going home, the colts
would get mixed up. The mares would whinny, the colts
would whinny and run in the wrong direction, and there
was confusion worse confounded. Then the boys were
ordered out as an emergency corps to chase, to separate,
and to return the colts to their respective dams; no easy
task, nor one suitable to Sunday-school teachings and a
divine service. The feelings, the thoughts of every boy
who has chased those colts cannot properly be described:
nor will the boys ever forget the incident. If the adults
had given less thought to theology and more to biology,
and had driven mules to church, what a means of grace
it would have been to the boys who chased those damless
colts !
The minister's salary was six hundred dollars a year.
The standard of living was not too high, and provisions
given to the minister's family could be deducted from the
amount pledged toward the salary. Deacon Reeve used to
give the Lovejoys many apples, but no deduction on his
dues was expected or accepted: indeed we children used to
go to the Deacon's and boldly announce: "Well, Deacon,
we've come for some apples." If the Lord loveth a cheer-
ful giver, so do children.
28
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
The bell that hung in the spire was manipulated by
a rope that came through the ceiling into the lobby. The
end of the rope reversed and spliced into the body of the
rope forming a loop, in which the sexton could put his
foot, thus adding his weight to the pull on the bell. One
sexton would allow the boys to climb into this loop and
ride back and forth; another sexton was not interested in
the uplift of the boys, neither was he popular with them.
The main purpose of the bell was, of course, to call the
people to church, but it had several other interesting uses :
a certain number of strokes denoted the death of some
member of the congregation ; other strokes denoted the sex
of the deceased ; others gave the age of the departed. This
last use of the bell was later discontinued, possibly due to
the women members who did not wish their age broad-
cast.
The use of the bell had romantic and heroic phases,
when at times it would clang forth a warning to the initiat-
ed that a negro was caught in the meshes of the law. At
this important signal the farmers would stop their teams
in the furrow, strip the harness from one horse and away
to the rescue, leaving the other horse to stand in the fur-
row or make its way to the barn to be taken care of by the
wife. In those days the women, too, were "Minute-men."
This building that I've been talking about, was later
rebuilt, remodled and much improved. In part it was car-
peted, some of the seats were cushioned, and above all it
was heated. The church was lighted by a kind of gas
that would sometimes explode, but that was only an added
interest.
The choir was now established in the west end of the
church and a pipe-organ was installed. The tunes and the
hymns were majestic, heart-filling, and soul inspiring. The
entire congregation used to sing — perhaps they could not
sing, but they did.
The authors of these hymns must have been inspired
29
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
like the prophets of old. A prayer, a hope, a faith were
never more sweetly phrased than in some of these hymns:
"Father, whate'er of earthly bliss
Thy sov'reign will denies,
Accepted at thy throne of grace,
Let this petition rise.
"Give me a calm, a thankful heart,
From every murmur free:
The blessings of thy grace impart,
And make me live to Thee.
"Let the sweet hope that Thou are mine
My life and death attend;
Thy presence through my journey shine,
And crown my journey's end."
— Mrs. Steele (Plymouth Collection.)
"We are living, we are dwelling
In a grand and awful time,
In an age on ages telling;
To be living is sublime.
Hark! the waking up of nations,
Gog and Magog to the fray.
Hark! What soundeth is creation
Groaning for its latter day.
"Will ye play then, will ye dally,
With your music and your mine?
Up! It is Jehovah's rally!
God's own arm hath need of thine.
Hark the onset! will ye fold your
Faith-clad arms in lazy lock?
Up, up, thou drowsy soldier;
Worlds are charging to the shock.
"Worlds are charging, heaven beholding;
Thou hast but an hour to fight;
Now the blazoned cross unfolding,
On, right onward, for the right.
Oh! Let all the soul within you
For the truth's sake go abroad!
Strike, let every nerve and sinew
Tell on ages— tell for God."
—A. C. Coxe (Plymouth Collection.)
30
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
I wish you might have heard the singing of these
hymns. The lofty vault gathered and rolled back the sound
of anthem after anthem until no one, not even a youth,
could hear these anthems and not be wrought to a plane of
enthusiasm and caused to see a vision.
Not incidents, not events, but people are the most
cherished memories and the dearest; words, deeds, man-
ners of older people impress and influence those who are
younger more than anyone realizes. The impressions of
youth are apt to be correct and lasting.
Of the men of the church little need be said ; probably
they were convenient and necessary adjuncts.
Much more should be said of the women. There were
two whose personality is indelibly impressed on my mem-
ory: Aunt Emily Colton and Camilla Dunbar Richardson.
They were good women and no celestial halo could be
brighter than the one wrought by their good deeds, kind
thoughts and gentle ways. Need, not name or position was
the open sesame to their kind hearts and generous hands.
Good people have made the Church; the Church has
not made good people. A good life may pass, but the in-
fluence, the goodness, the benedictions are eternal; they
are the attributes of God himself, they cannot pass. "Good
deeds and kind words are the flowers that bloom in the
Garden of Life."
E. Parish Love joy.
31
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
PRAYER BY OWEN LOVEJOY
The following excerpts are from the last public prayer made
by Owen Lovejoy, M. C. The occasion was the second celebra-
tion of a National Thanksgiving, held at the church, Novem-
ber, 26, 1863, at which time Mr. Lovejoy also made his last
speech to a Princeton audience.
"We render thanks to Thee, merciful Father, that
Thou hast inclined the heart of our chief magistrate to call
upon the people of the United States as one people to render
thanks to God for His manifold benefits. We thank Thee
that we are thus for the first time, with one exception,
called together to praise Thee as a Nation. - -
"We thank Thee, our Heavenly Father, for the blessings
of a civil nature which Thou hast bestowed upon us as a
people. We thank Thee that Thou hast planted this nation ;
that Thou didst sift out the just seed from the Old World
and scatter it upon these shores ; that Thou didst bring our
fathers across a difficult and stormy sea; and that though
many of them perished through wants and privations and
the emnity of the savages, Thou didst not allow them to be
exterminated, but that Thou has multiplied their number
and extended their border from the river to the end of the
earth, from ocean to ocean. We thank Thee for our speedy
and unparalleled growth among the nations of the earth.
We thank Thee that the forest has disappeared before the
axe of the laborer, and that beautiful and happy free homes
have sprung up in the path of our progress. We thank
Thee that so large a portion of this land has been culti-
vated, and that it has poured forth such abundance for men
and beasts. We thank Thee for that freedom of thought
which we have enjoyed and which is so essential to individ-
ual and national development. We thank Thee that we
have been permitted to worship Thee under our own vine
and fig tree, that we have been permitted freedom of the
lips, and that the church and school house have arisen
wherever settlements have been made. We bless Thee for
all Thy kindness to us." -
32
The Faith of Our Fathers
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH— 1831
THE COVENANT— 1831
THE PRESENT CONFESSION AND
COVENANT
ON ADMISSION TO CHURCH
MEMBERSHIP
THE WEEK-DAY PRAYER MEETINGS
SLAVERY
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS
THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH
(As Adopted In 1831)
I. Do you believe there is but one God, in three per-
sons, The Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and that these three
are the same in substance, equal in power and glory, and
that this God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable
in His being, in His wisdom, power, knowledge, justice
goodness and truth ; that He is the maker, upholder and the
righteous governor of the world?
II. Do you believe that God made man upright in His
own image and that man continued not in his first es-
tate, but that in consequence of Adam's first transgres-
sion, death hath passed upon all men, for all have sinned
and that so long as we are in unbelief we are under con-
demnation and liable to everlasting misery and that of
ourselves we cannot purchase eternal life, merit the
favor of God or prepare ourselves for the enjoyments of
Heaven ?
III. Do you believe that God so loved the world that
He gave His own Son, that whosoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life, that through
the substitution, incarnation, obedience and death of Christ,
the law is fulfilled and magnified and made honorable,
justice is satisfied and redemption purchased and a new
and living way is opened into the holiest place and that
God can now be just and the justifier of him that be-
lieveth on Jesus Christ and that He justifies freely by
His grace through the redemption that is in Christ — that
he adopts into His family of His own free and sovereign
grace — that He sanctifies by the washing of regeneration
35
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
and the renewing of the Holy Ghost and that He keeps all
believers by His mighty power through faith unto salva-
tion and admits them to glory through Jesus Christ?
IV. Do you believe that repentance toward God and
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and a life of new and holy
obedience are our reasonable and indispensable duties,
and that the means of grace are to be humbly and dili-
gently and faithfully used for spiritual nourishment and
growth in grace?
V. Do you believe that the scriptures of the Old and
New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, that
they are the only all sufficient rule of faith and practice
and that you are bound to receive them as such, to search
them carefully and obey them entirely?
IV. Do you believe that the sacraments of the New
Testament are Baptism and the Lord's Supper, that be-
lievers in regular church standing only, can consistently
partake of the Lord's Supper, and that they and their chil-
dren only, can consistently be admitted to the ordinance of
baptism ?
VII. Do you believe that there will be a resurrection
of the dead and a general judgment according to the deeds
done in the body and a future state of eternal reward and
punishments?
These questions being answered in the affirmative, the persons
admitted solemnly enter into the following covenant with God and
his church:
THE COVENANT
We now, in the presence of God and His people most
solemnly and sincerely surrender ourselves, bodies and
spirits to God as a living sacrifice and we do renounce the
world, the flesh and the devil, fully purposing in the
strength of the grace of God to abstain from every evil
way and to live a life of new obedience, making the word of
God our only rule and with the solemn belief that our vows
are heard on high and will be received in the day of judg-
36
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
ment. We do most solemnly covenant and promise that we
will constantly endeavor to promote the peace and har-
mony and prosperity of the church of Jesus Christ gen-
erally, and of this one especially, walking with the mem-
bers in Christian faithfulness and love and that we will
submit ourselves to every divine ordinance for the Lord's
sake; that we will be punctual and prayerful in our attend-
ance on all the worship of God's house; that we will never
undervalue, despise or renounce, nor in any way neglect
the seals of God's covenant, baptism and the Lord's Sup-
per, but that we will renounce the sinful pleasures of the
amusements of the world ; that we will strictly observe the
Sabbath as holy unto the Lord; that we will lend our in-
fluence to the cause of temperance and sobriety; that we
will constantly observe secret devotions and so far as God
may give us opportunity, family worship also; and in all
things earnestly endeavor to perfect holiness in the fear
of God, relying on the grace and spirit of Jesus Christ as
we shall answer it, to Him at the last day. Amen.
THE PRESENT CONFESSION AND COVENANT
You confess your faith in God as your Heavenly
Father, and in Jesus Christ as your crucified Saviour and
risen Lord, and in the Holy Spirit as your divine Helper
and Guide?
You receive with implicit trust the promises of for-
giveness and cleansing which God has made through Jesus,
His son?
Thus confessing, you covenant to give yourselves to
the Lord Jehovah as your God, the object of your supreme
promised help of His Holy Spirit, you engage to walk in
affection and your portion forever; and trusting in
all His way, as it is or shall be made known to you by His
word or providence.
Do you thus confess and covenant?
Answer. I do.
37
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
ON ADMISSION TO CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
May 30, 1835—
Resolved, That it is expedient to examine those who have
come among us, without letters, and who think they have been
converted while residing with us. They shall inform the church
to which they belong, confessing their sins and procuring let-
ters of dismission, before being received by us.
November 27, 1835, and again January 8, 1840 —
Voted that three members be associated, with the deacons,
to examine candidates for membership.
April 2, 1873—
Discussion — (laid on table). Committee to assist the pas-
tor in examining candidates for membership, but this not to
take the place of the usual relation of Christian experience
before the whole church, unless the church so orders.
November 4, 1876 —
A committee of six, with the pastor, to examine candidates
for church membership.
January 2, 1895—
Prudential Committee to examine candidates — (no other
record about the method of receiving candidates).
In the early days candidates were carefully examined
by pastor and deacons. They were expected to attend the
Preparatory Lecture, before Communion Sunday, and give
something of their religious experience. They were then
voted on by the Church, each candidate separately. On
Communion Sunday they appeared before the Church, gave
their assent to the confession of faith and were covenanted
with by the church. Those who had been baptised accept-
ing that ordinance as their own and those who had not,
being then baptised.
As time went by different methods of examination
were tried. The candidates more and more often did not
come before the church. They were recommended by the
examining committee, and, if so recommended, were ac-
cepted. Of late, one desiring church membership makes
it known to the pastor of the church. He alone recom-
mends him and the church receives him, nothing what-
ever being stated as to religious experience.
38
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE WEEK-DAY PRAYER MEETINGS
The twelfth standing rule of the Hampshire Colony
Congregational Church reads as follows: —
"There shall be a church prayer meeting on Wednesday of
each week at two o'clock P. M., at which meeting any business
not requiring previous notice may be transacted. A concert of
prayer for the conversion of the world shall be held on the
evening of the Lord's Day next before the first Monday of
each month; and a concert of prayer for the enslaved of our
Land on the evening of the Lord's Day next before the last
Monday of each month."
In 1868 a daily prayer meeting is spoken of. In 1886
the first Wednesday in each month, prayer for prohibition
was made. In 1899 the time of the meeting was changed
to 7:30 P. M. Twice on election day, in 1903 and 1904, an
all day prayer meeting was held pleading for the aboli-
tion of the saloon. On both days prohibition won. In 1906
the day was changed from Wednesday to Thursday "to
accommodate the business man."
The Reverend V. Le Roy Lockwood writing of the
early forties says : "The old church in these days was a live
church, in all things greatly prospered, and a source of
great spiritual power and usefulness. Well do I remem-
ber the precious and most profitable early morning prayer
meetings we enjoyed which I attended regularly, going
nearly half a mile before breakfast."
During Mr. Howard's pastorate, 1870-1875, there were
three prayer meetings a week: Wednesday, 2:00 P. M.,
Thursday, 7:30 P. M., and a young people's meeting Sun-
day afternoon until 1906 or a little after. On Saturday,
2:00 P. M., just before the communion service, a prepara-
tory lecture was given. At this service candidates for
church membership presented themselves and were voted
into that membership. Later the Thursday evening meet-
ing was made to do that service. At last the preparatory
lecture vanished. In 1929 the mid-week meeting followed
it and a monthly church night was substituted.
39
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
SLAVERY
The question of slavery was a particularly live one in
the early days of this church. Mr. Farnham and a ma-
jority of the members were abolitionists. Mr. Love joy
was also a fiery advocate of the liberation of the slave.
Various recorded resolutions, found in the old books, show
how strong the sentiment was.
February 5, 1840, voted that the pastor be requested to appoint
the monthly concern of prayer for slaves.
May 10, 1843, after discussion the following resolutions were
passed:
December 20, 1842, voted that the money collected during 1843
are in bonds as bound with them and that all things whatsoever
ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.
Therefore, Resolved, that we highly approve of the frequent
presentation of the subject of Human Rights from the sacred
desk as a part of the Gospel of Him who came to preach deliver-
ance to the captive and to set at liberty them that are bound.
The subject of church fellowship was taken up, and May 24,
1843, these resolutions were discussed and finally passed:
Resolved, That to be guilty of slave-holding is to be guilty of
man-stealing every day. (Gen. 39:25-28 and 40:15).
Resolved, That as a Christian church we can have no fellow-
ship or communion with slave-holders or with those who justify
the holding of men as property. (Eph. 5:11; I Cor. 5:9, 11;
II Cor. 6:14; II Ths. 3:6-14; Lev. 19:17; I Tim. 5:20; II John
9:11).
December 20, 1842, voted that the money collected during 1843
at the monthly concert for the conversion of the world be for-
warded to the Union Missionary Society to be appropriated for
the support of those missionaries at the Sandwich Islands who
have withdrawn their connection with the American Board of
Foreign Missions on account of its connection with slavery.
December 20, 1843, also voted that the clerk be a committee to
present a resolution expressing the sense of the church on the
subject of cooperating with those Boards of Missions which do
not receive the price of blood.
February 7, 1844.
Whereas: the requirement of the word of God is "Be not part-
takers of other men's sins, also to have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them there-
for;
40
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Resolved that it is the duty of Christians to bear decided
testimony against the sin of slavery by refusing to mingle
their contributions with those procured either from unpaid
toil or the sale of our fellow men.
Resolved, that we view with deep regret the course present-
ed by the American Board of Foreign Missions in reference
to slavery which makes it our duty to break away from our
long cherished attachment to the Board and seek some other
channel through which we can consistently communicate with
the perishing heathen.
Resolved, that we will cooperate only with those Boards of
Missions which refuse money procured by extortion and robbery
of heathen at home when offered for the purpose of sending
the Gospel to the heathen in foreign fields."
(A copy of these resolutions was sent to the Western Citizen
to be published. The A. B. C. F. M. was also informed of this
action).
August 13, 1845. Voted to unite with all the churches to
meet together in concert for prayer for the slave on the last
Sabbath evening of each month, meeting in different churches
alternately.
After this the records show nothing more about
slavery — but since Owen Lovejoy was the pastor of the
church from 1839 to 1856, it follows that the pulpit was
not silent. It is said that he talked and preached and pray-
ed about Human Rights. When some of his indignant
hearers walked out of church during one of his strong anti-
slavery sermons, he stopped and said to their retreating
forms, "I shall preach this doctrine till you like it and
then I shall preach it because you like it", and he did. His
home, as well as other homes of the church people, was a
station on the "underground railroad". More than once
the law laid heavy hands on him and his church members.
In the published covenant and standing rules July, 1851,
is the following:
The Lord's Supper shall be administered every two months be-
ginning with the first Lord's day of January. No one who justi-
fies the holding of property in man shall be invited to partake
with us.
41
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS
May 20, 1835.
Resolved, That the first and second steps of discipline be
taken with members of other churches residing within our
bounds who live in open violation of their covenant vows, and if
they refuse to hear, that their case be reported to the church to
which they belong.
Resolved, That we highly disapprove of the practice of
Christians, or others, travelling on the Sabbath and that spe-
cial notice be taken of offenses of this kind whenever they oc-
cur in the church.
January 13, 1841. A committee was appointed to confer with
the other Congregational Church about uniting the two
churches: E. S. Phelps, L. Reeve, C. S. Allen.
January 14, 1846. On motion church took up a resolution
presented December 31, 1845 (but not recorded) on the subject
of peace which had been laid over. After some discussion, it
was adopted. The substance of the resolution was that the
church set apart the Sabbath evening before the 3rd Monday
in each month for special united prayer for peace.
January 5, 1853. Voted that the citizens of the town have
the privilege of ringing the bell three times a day provided they
employ a person to ring it who shall be approved by the trustees.
February 13, 1867. Voted that the Communion Service be
held at the close of the morning service instead of the afternoon
as has been the custom.
January 6, 1886.
Resolved, That the rule of action of this church touching the
question of divorce shall be the words of Jesus Christ, as record-
ed in the 5th of Matthew, in accepting persons to church mem-
bership, and also in dismissal of members who have united with
the Church subsequent to the adoption of this resolution.
42
The House of Worship
THE CHURCH BUILDINGS
THE BELL
GIFTS
THE COMMUNION SERVICE
THE PULPIT BIBLES
OAKLAND
OTHER GIFTS
I fV f - / Ft, T
These sketches were made under the direction of Miss
Orpha V. Ellis, long a member of the Congregational
Church. The details were furnished by Miss Ellis and
by a few who recollect clearly the appearance of both
church buildings.
THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP
THE CHURCH BUILDINGS
The first meeting of the church in Illinois was held in
the unfinished cabin of Elijah Smith, October 20, 1831.
On November 21, 1831, a business meeting was held at the
same place. The first Sabbath in May, 1832, services were
held in the cabin of Eli and Elijah Smith. In the sum-
mer of 1833 two Sunday-schools were started: one met in
Dr. Chamberlin's cabin south of town, the other in John
Ament's cabin, north of town. Later the two schools united
and met in Mr. S. Triplet's tavern. Early in 1834 Rev. L.
Farnham visited the Bureau settlement and found them
very desirous of having a minister and a meeting house.
By the fall of that year the settlement had so increased its
numbers that a place of worship was imperative and
pledges of money, labor and material made it possible.
The first church edifice stood south of the west end of the
courthouse and for years served as church, courthouse and
academy. Elisha Ward was its builder and with Asher
Doolittle, Butler Denham and Elijah Smith served as build-
ing committee. The timber used was cut on Bureau Creek
and hewn into sills, posts and beams after the manner of
the Berkshire hills. A rude saw mill on Bureau Creek saw-
ed rough boards that were used for floors, roofing boards
and cornice. It was a square building with a basement
in which school was held. Unshaded windows gave plenty
of light in day time. Evening meetings were unusual, but,
if they did occur, candles furnished the light. No mention
is found of any way of heating this house. Court was held
here until 1845 when the present courthouse was built.
45
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
This building was used until the summer of 1848, and
in December of that year was sold at auction for $200.50
to Mr. Noah Wiswall, and was moved from the site just
south of the courthouse to a lot on the south side of Park
Avenue East, where it served as a barn until the summer
of 1921 when it was torn down. In June, 1847, a com-
mittee was appointed to present a plan for a new church.
L. Reeve, Dr. Anthony, Dr. Convers and C. D. Colton were
the committee. Their first report was for a building 40x58
feet to cost $2800.00. They were asked to enlarge the
plan to 44x65 feet, which they did and estimated the cost
at $4000.00. They were told to proceed on this basis,
which they probably did, for the next entry directs the
trustees to have tin eave troughs and conduits put upon
the meeting-house. This was a rectangular building of
brick. John H. Bryant furnished the brick. There were
three windows on each side, without curtains or blinds;
the walls were plastered and undecorated. Two front doors
furnished entrance into the vestibule over which was the
gallery where the singers sat. There were three tiers of
pews, with a middle and two side aisles. The pews had
doors. Two stoves, one on each side of the east end of the
house, furnished heat ; the stove pipes ran the whole length
of the room and entered chimneys at the west end. Wooden
troughs were hung under these pipes to catch the cresote
drippings that collected from burning wood. In 1864 the
wood-stoves were replaced by coal-burners. By the early
seventies a furnace had been installed. After candles came
kerosene lamps, then for a time the church manufactured
its own gas, but in 1875 began using city gas. A bell had
been purchased in 1850 and the building committee was
told to finish a belfry as soon as possible. After some
delay this was attended to and the irreverent youngsters
referred to it as the "chicken coop".
In 1864 an alcove 22x12 feet was added to the west
end of the building to make room for a pipe organ. This
46
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH WITH THE SPIRE
1868
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
alcove had an arched top, a window on each side, and seats
for the choir.
In the spring of 1868 Mr. Romanus Hodgman was en-
gaged as architect to enlarge the house. As a result an
addition to the east end of the church was built. This
gave one more window on each side and a central entrance
into the vestibule, on the north side of which a stairway
led to the basement, and, on the south side, a small room
furnished a place for the Sunday school library. A steeple
provided a place for the bell and added much to the beauty
and dignity of the building. Stained glass windows with
circular tops were put in at this time. The estimated cost
was $7000.00. Many remember the church as it now was
with great pleasure. From the red carpet on the floor to
the chandelier over-head, from the clock on the entrance
(where the public could see it) to the high backed chairs
on the pulpit platform there was an atmosphere of wor-
ship. The messages of Godly ministers, the prayers of
good men and women, the inspiration of consecrated Sun-
day-school teachers had hallowed its walls. It served as
a house of prayer and its memory is still dear to many
hearts.
In the spring of 1881 the floor of the basement had
been lowered and commodious rooms for social and devo-
tional meetings had been finished. The removal of so much
earth from the support of the foundation caused the walls
to crack and in 1904 the building was pronounced unsafe.
Sometime before this $3000.00 had been given by the Drake
legacy for a new church ; this had been added to in various
ways until at the annual meeting, in January, 1902,
$4000.00 was reported available for use. $5070.00 was
added to this by pledges, and plans began to mature. In
March, 1905, the brick building was demolished.
The corner stone for the new house was laid October
22, 1905. The first service was held March 18, 1906, when
more than one hundred new members were received, re-
47
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
suits of the "Sunday meetings." This house was dedicated
October 11, 1908, free of debt. Its cost was about $28,000.
It is built of concrete blocks, has a seating capacity of 300.
Folding doors into the prayer meeting room give space
for 100 more. A sloping floor leads to a corner pulpit,
with a choir loft at its left. Rooms at each end of the
choir loft are used for Sunday-school classes, the one at
the south end having a gas grate being called the pastor's
study. There are two memorial windows, one on the north
given by Mr. E. P. Lovejoy in memory of his father, the
Reverend Owen Lovejoy, and one on the south given by
the Reverend E. G. Smith in memory of his father and
mother, dear Alby and Sally Hyde Smith. Small stained
glass windows furnish plenty of light by day and elec-
tricity makes daylight at night. Furnace heat gives com-
fort in winter. The prayer meeting room on the east
side of the church is a most inviting room and is also used
for the Junior Department of the Sunday-school. In the
basement there are dining rooms and kitchens that are
also used for Sunday school classes. The small rooms are
fitted up for the Primary Department of the Sunday-
school. The bell tower on the northeast corner of the
church was made higher in 1911 and the Minnie Coles-
berry clock installed. A bronze tablet on the north wall of
the vestibule records the date and donor of the clock.
A bronze tablet on the west wall gives the date of the
organization of the Hampshire Colony Congregational
Church and the names of the eighteen charter members.
A marble tablet on the right of the pulpit platform is in
memory of Lora Simons Carey, a daughter of the church
who died in Turkey while in the service of the A. B. C. F.
M.
The pulpit that stood in the brick church was kept as
well as the three tall backed pulpit chairs. An old horse-
hair sofa that now stands in the pastor's study was at one
time the pulpit seat. The communion table of the brick
48
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
church stands in front of the platform and is still used for
that service. In the summer of 1929 the outside of the
foundation walls were waterproofed to insure more sani-
tary conditions.
For thirteen years the frame church sheltered the
brave men and women who had sacrificed so much to es-
tablish it in this new country, then, the membership having
increased in number and wealth, the brick church was
built, this too called for sacrifice. Some who borrowed
money that it might be financed paid interest on that
money as long as they lived. For fifty-eight years it stood,
a monument of loyalty to freedom, temperance and the
gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
For a little more than a quarter of a century this
third house of worship has called to the children and
grandchildren of its pioneer members, urging them not to
forget the faith of their fathers.
HOUSES OF WORSHIP CHANGE AS THE YEARS
GO BY BUT THE MESSAGE IS
ETERNAL.
49
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THE BELL
Through Mr. Love joy's efforts a bell was purchased in
1849. Mr. Justus Stevens was commissioned to buy it and
Mr. Love joy himself went on to Troy, New York, to make
sure its tone was satisfactory. It was shipped to Hennepin
by boat, Captain Warren in charge, and was hauled by
wagon to Princeton. It was not hung at once and a quar-
tette of fun loving young men decided to hasten matters.
The bell stood on the platform in front of the church and
one dark night these boys took it out to the edge of town.
By methods unknown they managed to mount it, and, at
four o'clock in the morning the startled citizens heard the
first ringing of the Congregational bell. In January, 1850,
the trustees were instructed to furnish a bellfry. One who
saw this structure many times said "it looked like a
chicken coop."
On January 5, 1853, it was voted that the citizens be
permitted to ring the bell three times a day provided a
ringer satisfactory to the trustees was found. It was long
known as the "Lovejoy bell".
Early in the nineties the bell was cracked and in 1897
it was recast. When it was again hung in the church tow-
er, the Ladies' Aid, through whose efforts it had been re-
stored, gave a reception. For this program Mr. John H.
Bryant wrote the following poem:
0, brave Old Bell! for many a year,
Thy voice rang out in music here,
Rang out against oppressions wrong,
Rang out for Freedom bold and strong.
Within these walls, for truths Divine,
A voice in harmony with Thine,
Rang like trumpet wild and free,
Against the curse of slavery.
50
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
And shall their memory be lost,
Who chose the right at fearful cost,
When contumely, scorn and wrath,
And prison walls beset their path?
But years passed on, until at last,
The Avenger's lightning bolt was cast,
And the foul monster prone in death,
Lay blasted by the Almighty's breath.
O, Glorious Bell! Thy power renewed,
With pristine tone again imbued,
Long may thy voice deep, bold and clear
Ring out for Right and Freedom here.
— John Howard Bryant.
Three times the bell has called men to arms, 1861,
1898 and 1917. When Lee surrendered and on Armistice
day it sounded a jubilee. It tolled off the years of many
of the old members as well as the briefer days of many
soldier boys.
When the clock was installed in 1911 the bell was
called upon to report the message of its dial, and today
every hour and every half -hour it speaks:
"as if like God, it all things saw,
It calmly repeats those words of awe, —
'Forever — never !
Never — forever' ! "
51
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THE COMMUNION SERVICE
At that first meeting, in Northampton, Massachusetts,
a collection of $54.00 was taken to supply the Hampshire
Colony Congregational Church with a suitable communion
service. Doubtless it was purchased before they came west
for Matson's History of Bureau County says that "during
the Black Hawk war it was left in the cabin of Elijah
Smith and was stolen. After the war, when the prairie
had been burned, one part of the set was found on West
Bureau Creek much damaged by the burning of the grass."
It must have been repaired, for so far as is known it was
used until 1874 when it was given to the African M. E.
church of Princeton. All efforts to trace it since then have
proved fruitless.
In 1874 a new service of two ewers, four goblets and
four plates took its place. These, with the exception of one
goblet, are in the deacon's box in the church. Since 1906
individual cups have been used.
A table "suitable for the communion service" was pur-
chased in 1851. This table with a chair used by the Rev-
erend Owen Lovejoy was given to E. P. Lovejoy on March
19, 1914. There is no record of the purchase of the table
now in use. It was used for some years in the brick church.
52
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
PULPIT BIBLES
In July, 1839, Deacon Winship was appointed "to as-
certain whether there were any funds in the old Bible So-
ciety to defray the expense of a Church Bible." No other
mention is made of this, but we have an old Bible that
shows much use and was published in 1834. It is probably
the Pulpit Bible used by the Hampshire Colony Congrega-
tional Church.
Another Bible in our possession has this inscribed on
the fly-leaf:
"Presented to the Congregational Church of Princeton
by the ladies of the congregation, Apr., 1850."
There must have been other Bibles, but they and their
history have vanished. In 1921 the book in use was very
shabby, and Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Harrison put another in
its place. In December, 1929, Mr. Edwin Chamberlin sent
to the church, a fine large Bible that had belonged to Mrs.
Rufus Carey, his aunt, a devoted member of this church
for many years. It bears this inscription:
"December 10, 1919.
This Bible is presented by Edwin C. Carpenter
of Chicago, Illinois
To the Princeton Congregational Church
in memory of
Estella Eliza Carpenter
Born in Princeton, Illinois, September 20, 1859
United with this church in the year 1872
Entered into rest February 2, 1883."
53
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
OAKLAND CEMETERY
On December 30, 1836, a little son of Rev. Lucian
Farnham died and was buried on land belonging to his
father. His grave was the first one made in Oakland
cemetery. On October 26, 1842, Mr. Farnham deeded* two
and half acres of land, including the little grave, to the
church for a burying ground. On April 22, 1852, he added**
one and a half acres to this gift. The care of this property
is often referred to in old record books. On October 4,
1848, the trustees were instructed to "lay off lots" and
offer them for sale.
In June, 1862, they were to confer with the town coun-
cil about the burying ground, and on November 11, 1863,
the church leased it to the City of Princeton for fifty years.
In July, 1869, deeds to lots were given and a list of early
deed holders can be found in the trustees' records for
1847-1863, page 154.
On November 19, 1914, the church voted to ***deed
the cemetery to the City of Princeton for the consideration
that it be always maintained as a cemtery with the further
provision that the lot on which the Rev. L. Farnham is
buried be placed under perpetual care.
With the passing of the years scores from the many
who have at some time made Princeton or Bureau County
their home, have been returned to rest in beautiful Oak-
land. Among the numbers are six former pastors of this
church. They are:
Rev. Nathaniel Abbott Keyes, 1856.
Rev. Owen Lovejoy, 1864.
Rev. Lucian Farnham, 1874.
Rev. Flavel Bascom, 1890.
Rev. Elihu Hillis Votaw, 1902.
- Rev. Harold E. Parr, 1918.
* Deed recorded in Deed Book D, p. 381.
** Deed recorded in Deed Book C, p. 539.
*** Deed recorded in Deed Book 167-572, May 13, 1915.
54
THE PRESENT CHURCH
1906
THE COLESBERRY TOWER CLOCK
1911
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
OTHER GIFTS
1895 Catlin Cook — $300 on parsonage lot.
1901 The Louisa Reeve Estate— $100. Inter-
est for Flower Fund.
1902 The Drake Estate— $3000 for new church
building.
1902 The Edwards Family— Portrait of Dr.
Richard Edwards.
1906 The Prouty Estate— $3000 for new church
building.
1906 Edwin G. Smith— $500 for Smith Memor-
ial Window.
1906 Parish Lovejoy and Mary Denham — $500
for Lovejoy Memorial Window.
1911 Mrs. Naffziger— $500 for Minnie Naff-
ziger Memorial. Interest for the Sunday
school.
1911 The Minnie Colesbury Estate— $1609 for
clock in church tower.
1911 Edward Carey — Memorial tablet for Lora
Simons Carey.
1912 Captain Duncan — Four gas arc lights.
1916 The Lovejoy Family— $500 for Mary Den-
ham Memorial. Interest for Flower Fund.
1917 Mrs. S. J. Smith— $100 for the Mission-
ary Society.
1917 The Lydia Anthony Estate— $100. Inter-
est for Flower Fund.
1918 Flag for pulpit platform.
55
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
1920 The Lucia Bascom Estate— $300. Inter-
est for church expenses.
1924 The Harriet Keyes Estate— $500. Inter-
est for church expenses.
1925 The Mrs. John Delano Estate— $1500.
Interest for church expenses.
1925 Emma Farnham Hurr — Portrait of Rev.
Lucian Farnham.
1927 Agnes Robinson. A piano.
1928 The Grandchildren of Eli and Elijah
Smith and The Ladies' Aid— $97 for
memorial tablet for Charter Members.
(Unveiled March 23, 1928.)
56
The Work of the Kingdom
THE LADIES' AID
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL
THE WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY
THE ELIZABETH CURTIS GUILD
THE DELTA ALPHA SOCIETY
THE CHOIR
THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM
THE LADIES' AID SOCIETY
"In work you bore a noble part;
Your feet were foremost in the race;
Your deeds shall dwell in every heart;
Your Womanhood glorified your place."
A century is not long as history views it. But a
sketch of a society existing for the greater part of a cent-
ury would be difficult to write, were the records available.
Yet it is interesting to go back in thought a hundred
years, — to the days of romance in northern Illinois, in
which this church played a prominent part, when our
pioneer women did a noble work, along with their many
tasks and responsibilities.
So quickly did time fly, and so busy were the lives of
these women, that they had no time to write of the history
they were making. But due to their faith and pioneer
spirit, a work was begun, out of which grew the Ladies'
Aid Society, the oldest society in this church.
We have only a few old letters and records from which
to glean, now and then, a glimpse of a faithful and im-
portant work they were doing in the very early days, when
they worshiped in the ittle white frame church. So, re-
lunctantly we pass on, to the building of the old brick
church in 1848. Soon afterwards, in 1850, the women
purchased and presented a pulpit Bible to the church. Al-
so we find that about this time the women earned the
money to purchase a melodeon for the church, this more
modern instrument to replace the tuning fork.
59
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
During the years 1884 to 1869 these women were
busily engaged in helping with the many improvements
made in the church, from time to time, in which they did
their share in the work and expense, or, often assumed
the entire burden. In 1864 they purchased the first pipe
organ, which was set up in a recess twelve by twenty
feet, built into the west end of the church.
In an old record of 1877 we learn, "An iron fence was
erected around the church yard, which was entirely paid
for by the Ladies of this Church". E. S. Phelps and G. P.
Richardson composed this committee, who reported the
cost to be $220.90. This sum was paid the Committee by
Miss Jennie Curtis and Mrs. Worthington.
The first president, according to earliest available
records, was Mrs. Burr, under whose wise counsel the so-
ciety grew and accomplished much. During this time
was earned enough money to pay for the first carpet,
dishes, silver and stove, in the old brick church. The so-
ciety also put cushions in every seat, and upholstered the
pulpit chairs.
As the name of the society implies, it has aided in all
departments of the church work. No need or call from the
church went unheeded. During the early days, when a
tent was used as a dining hall at the county fair, these
faithful women would be at the tent as early as four o'clock
in the morning, to serve the public breakfasts of hash or
sausage, with pan-cakes and coffee.
In the early seventies Mrs. Burr realizing it was best
to have something definite to work for was instrumental
in presenting the church with a Communion Set consist-
ing of goblets, pitchers and plates. Mrs. Burr continued
to act as president for many years, during which time
the Ladies met at the church on Friday of each week to
quilt, and also served a dinner on that day. In those days
one could have quilting done for $1.25 per spool, and din-
ner served for twenty-five cents. The membership fee
60
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
was twenty-five cents a year, and those who came bring-
ing their own work paid ten cents. From this fund pro-
visions were purchased for the dinner, while members fur-
nished a hot dish.
After many years of service, which covered a period
of over fifty years, Mrs. Burr felt she was no longer able
to carry the burdens of the presidency, and begged that
some member be chosen to take her place. Mrs. Burr's
unselfish devotion to the Ladies' Aid through the long
years of her service, was indeed commendable.
Mrs. Eli Smith, Jr., was then chosen to act as presi-
dent, and was followed by Miss Mame Pettee . Then Mrs.
Smith was again chosen president, and during this time,
as in former years, the Ladies continued to quilt and
serve dinners, ever faithful in their work for the church.
Many beautiful quilts have been made for residents of
Princeton. Elaborate quilts have been sent to Chicago,
Los Angeles, and to far distant Japan.
In estimating the quilting done by the Aid, for a
period of twenty-five years, we find from the records, they
have quilted 225 quilts, and tied 250 comforters. Surely
this work would make a wonderful display, could all the
quilts and comforters of varied hue and design be as-
sembled.
But the Ladies' Aid has not confined itself to this
work alone ; it has helped along other lines of church work.
We will mention a few of these endeavors in which they
have helped or assumed the entire expense: the purchase
of flowers, an organ stop, Chautauqua tickets; the re-
decorating of the dining rooms; church calendars; Mis-
sions; church budget; Liberty bonds. They shared in
the privilege of helping with the expense of the Taber-
nacle built for special services.
The Ladies' Aid has also enjoyed a social side in its
work of special dinners and receptions. In April, 1927,
a banquet was given to the church officers and their wives,
61
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
which gave as much pleasure to those who sponsored it,
as to the guests. On March 23, 1928, when a pageant was
given to commemorate the ninety-seventh anniversary of
the organization of this church, a tablet was erected in
memory of the eighteen original members, which was paid
for by the grandchildren of Eli and Elijah Smith, with the
valuable cooperation of the Ladies' Aid.
On Friday, May 30, 1930, a Committee from the
Ladies' Aid Society, served a dinner to the Ferris Post No.
309 , G. A. R., who invited as their guests, the wives,
widows and daughters of the Ferris Post.
During the past few years Mrs. Eli Smith has again
served the Aid as its president. Mrs. Ida White was then
elected president, followed by Mrs. T. C. Cowley, who has
not only served the Aid as its president and a valuable
member, but for many years has faithfully given her serv-
ices to the church choir. The Ladies' Aid is still carry-
ing on its work under the guidance of its president, Mrs.
C. E. Parker, who, with her band of faithful workers, will
doubtless begin the work of the new century upon which
the church is entering, with a new purpose and a high
hope.
What the Ladies' Aid have lacked in money, they
have made up in courage and vision, and have left to this
church a priceless heritage, in memory of their faithful-
ness and devotion to the cause of aiding in the Master's
work.
Grace Smith Elder.
62
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
1833—1930
During the summer of 1833 Mr. McCoy, a Sunday-
school agent, came to this settlement and organized two
Sunday schools, one north in Dr. Chamberlin's cabin, of
which he was superintendent, the other south in John
Ament's cabin, with Elijah Smith as superintendent. In
1834 these schools were united and met in the town, first
in Rev. L. Farnham's house and later in the tavern kept
by Mr. S. Triplet. Deacon Alby Smith was the first super-
intendent. The school was held between the two preach-
ing services at noon. When the afternoon service was
discontinued the school still met at 12:00 o'clock until
about 1906 when the hour was changed to 10:00 A. M.
In the beginning the school was an independent or-
ganization, selecting its own officers and teachers and
paying its own expenses. The first Sunday of the year
was devoted to the election of officers and teachers. Each
class was at liberty to select a new teacher. Since the
members of the school were mostly children, this method
left much to be desired. There was a fixed idea in some
minds that this training was good for the children. Many
reforms were suggested and much discussion indulged in
until 1890 when the church voted to elect the superintend-
ents and gave them the authority to select teachers. In
January, 1930, the church voted to elect annually a Board
of Education consisting of five members, who should have
entire charge of the Sunday school. For many years the
whole school met in the audience room of the church.
63
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
In February, 1863, an Infant Class was formed and in
1869 a class "came up from down stairs" which seems to
indicate that the little ones met in the basement.
There has been no recording secretary for the Sun-
day school for many years and it has been impossible to
find definite facts concerning dates and leaders. So far
as is known, Mrs. J. W. Welsh organized the Primary De-
partment about 1908. At first it included all the child-
ren under junior age. They adopted the graded lessons
at once. As time went on other departments have been
organized until now the school is thoroughly graded from
Cradle Roll to Home Department. Until 1866 collections
were taken the first Sunday of the month; since then the
collection has been taken by classes every Sunday. The
duplex envelopes are now used by the older classes. Be-
fore they were introduced the collection of the first Sun-
day of the month was for Missions. Many special collec-
tions were taken. Rev. Chas. Winship, one missionary at
Dondi, Africa, and his protege Barnabas Root were of
early interest. Money was given for testaments and tem-
perance tracts for soldiers in the Civil War and again for
testaments for soldiers in the World War. The freedmen
and contrabands were helped. A room was furnished at
Tugaloo, a scholarship at Fisk University. The Home Mis-
sionary Society and the Bible Society were each remem-
bered. The school had a library for many years and there
was always a demand for new books. Collections, sub-
scriptions and entertainments afforded a precarious source
of income for that object. The Wellspring, mentioned
first in 1859 and the Child's Paper called for money. Sing-
ing books were bought: The Sabbeth Bell, The Golden
Chain, The Charm, and later, the various editions of Gospel
Hymns.
The birthday offerings began in 1908 and go to the
American Bible Society. For a long time the Bible salute
has been given during the opening exercises. Excelsior
64
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
membership is encouraged, when one is present, with his
Bible, an offering, a studied lesson, and a previous church
attendance. Two thirds of the membership of a class con-
stitute an excelsior class; two thirds present without
credits make a star class. In early days the lesson, a pass-
age of scripture, was assigned the Sunday before, memory
work was emphasized and sometimes the school repeated
together the scripture for the day. In 1869 the Inter-
national Lessons were adopted with lesson leaves and
quarterlies. Old record books indicate that the lesson was
not considered very important. Many times it was omitted
and a story or a soldier's letter or a message from a mis-
sionary was read. An evangelistic talk was often given
and once it is recorded, "Lesson omitted — sermon too long".
This was when the school met after the morning service.
The social side of the work has not been neglected.
Picnics in Bryant's woods and at Second High Banks used
to be annual events. Christmas always brings the lighted
tree and the appropriate program, with candy for the little
ones. Records tell of one glorious New Year's Day when
twelve bob-sleds took the children for a ride in the country
and brought them back for a bountiful dinner at the church.
Children's Day and Promotion Day, with diplomas and
Bibles bring all the parents as well as the children. Rally
Day also sees all the classes together in the audience room,
a united body working together for the bringing in of the
Kingdom of Heaven.
There are several organized classes in the Sunday-
school. One that came up with the Primary Department
in 1869 has kept its identity all the years and four of the
original class are still active members. This class has
had the same teacher since 1894.
65
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
CHARLES P. HALL
Few men in their capacity of teacher have left a more
abiding impression upon the hearts and lives of their
pupils than Charles P. Hall.
I do not know if what Emerson calls his ' 'daily con-
duct of life" emanated from his natural temperament or
was acquired by grace; but I do know, as his pupil for
many years, with the opportunity of intimate observation
under varying experiences, that his law of life was that
of Jesus brought into the common round of daily living;
and that so far as humanly possible, he sought to ex-
emplify within himself the teachings of the Divine Master.
It is said that a nickname is a sure test of the stu-
dents' reaction towards the teacher. Whatever the orig-
in, "Pa Hair' was the affectionate and familiar sobriquet
nine years of his life in our midst. Sometimes even a
parent was heard to use it inadvertently. That it was
a term of true affection is evidenced by the correspond-
ence and papers of that period.
As assistant principal of the Princeton Township High
School, his efficiency and many admirable qualities both
of head and heart proved of inestimable value to Mr. Bolt-
wood in those early formative years of the school, in shap-
ing the character and policy which later brought to it so
much distinction.
He was an extremely able teacher with a fine seren-
ity and dignity of demeanor which never wavered under
the most trying circumstances; he possessed an un-
wearying patience with the dull and backward pupil, and
an exquisite consideration for the physically handicapped
which was the more readily remarked because he him-
self was of the hardy, spare New England type, which
personifies perfect health and balanced nerves.
More than sixty years have passed since he lived with
taught among us both in church and school. Very few
66
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
are left who knew him or ever heard his name; most of
his pupils are gone. It comes as a solemn privilege to
one of these last surviving to frame this Immortelle to
his memory.
As an evangel he came to many of his pupils to
awaken for the first time their consciousness of the in-
ner life within the soul as contrasted with the material
things of the outer life; and to arouse within them a
hunger for the spiritual food with which to feed these
sacred fires.
"And they that turn many to rightousness shall
shine as the stars forever and ever."
Darlene Stevens Reeve
HENRY L. BOLTWOOD
In the late summer of 1867 a young man full of the
enthusiasm and energy of youth came to Princeton from
Griggsville, Illinois, to establish the first Township High
School in the State.
This man was Henry L. Boltwood, who later became
known as the "Father of the Township High School."
Upon their arrival in Princeton, Mr. and Mrs. Bolt-
wood united with the Congregational Church and immed-
iately entered upon its activities in the Sunday-school,
prayer meeting, missionary society and its social life. For
seven years Mr. Boltwood served the church as a deacon,
and there are still a few persons who can remember the
earnest and efficient Sunday-school teacher whose out-
standing purpose was the inspiration and building of
Christian character. His own strong moral and religious
character indelibly stamped itself upon those with whom
he came in contact, and it was with a feeling of deepest
regret that the church bade farewell to these valued
friends and co-workers in 1878.
67
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Henry L. Boltwood was born in Amherst, Massachu-
setts, January 17, 1831, and belonged to a family of eleven
children. His father owned a small New England farm and
found it hard to support this large family. While New
England farms were often the homes of large families,
they did not remain so long, for those who could must get
away to more fertile fields or else go hungry. The Bolt-
wood farm was located near Amherst and Amherst was
a college town. The boy worked hard and finally made his
way through the academy there. Then he entered the
college and had to work still harder. During vacations
he toiled upon the farm doing his share to coax from the
rocky soil a few puny products. In the winter he taught
school not far from the college town. For this service he
received $4.00 a week and was permitted to board with
the parents of his pupils, each family giving three days
board for each child in school. Out of school he indulged
in what he called a pastime. He chopped wood, a hundred
cords of it every season. He didn't get much money out of
this diversion, but he got from it strong arms and a sound
pair of lungs, a clear head and bright eyes. Young Bolt-
wood was as earnest a student as he was a wood chopper
and he made a splendid scholarship record. He was one
of the best students and when graduated in 1853 he be-
came one of the charter members of the Amherst Chapter
of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
Upon graduation the young man intended to begin
studying for the Congregational ministry, and a Congre-
gational society had advanced him sufficient money to
carry on his studies.
He began teaching in an academy, however, and
soon returned the loan and gave up the idea of becoming
a clergyman. For a period of ten years he taught in sev-
eral academies and high schools in Maine, New Hamp-
shire and Massachusetts. And his long career as a teach-
er extending over a period of over fifty years was inter-
68
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
rupted but once when he entered the service of the United
States Sanitary Commission in April, 1864, and was sta-
tioned with the Gulf Department until June, 1865.
At Fort Blakely, opposite Mobile, he saw the last
fight of the Civil War. This was when Steele's command
took the fort by assault on the evening of April 9, 1865,
just after Grant and Lee had arranged terms of sur-
render.
Prof. Boltwood's educational career really began with
his coming to Illinois in August, 1865. He was influenced
to come West by an army friend and had been in the state
but a short time when he took charge of the school sys-
tem of Griggsville, Illinois. After two years there he ac-
cepted a call to organize after his own idea, the Princeton
Township High School. Referring to this call, Mr. Bolt-
wood said, "I was attracted to the new school principally
because I thought I saw a chance to realize a long cher-
ished ideal of a successful combination of the grade
school with the academy. I was also strongly impressed
with the willingness of the Board to give the school at
the very outset the requisites for successful work."
Due to his guiding spirit the enterprise was a success
from the start. Both the school and its principal quickly
achieving a wide reputation. For a long time it was the
only school of high grade within a radius of fifty miles of
Princeton, and at one time ninety pupils outside of the
township were enrolled.
Prof. Boltwood remained in Princeton eleven years,
a longer period of service than that of any principal since.
In 1878 he went to Ottawa, Illinois, to organize the town-
ship high school there and remained at its head five
years. During his stay in Ottawa, Prof. Boltwood be-
came an institute lecturer throughout Illinois and Iowa.
He also became a member of the State Board of Education
and in turn president of the Illinois Principals' Associa-
tion.
69
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
In 1883 he decided to accept the principalship of the
Evanston High School, remaining there until his death in
1906, a period of twenty-three years. It is said that dur-
ing his entire career as a teacher he missed but four days
of service.
Prof. Boltwood was a man of tireless energy and de-
termination of purpose. Besides being a distinguished
educator and contributor to many educational journals,
he was the author of several text books. His favorite
studies were languages and history. He read German,
Italian, Spanish, French and Greek, and began the study
of Bohemian.
Prof. Boltwood was an ardent supporter of athletics
and waged a continual warfare against high school
fraternities. He travelled much, often taking groups of
students with him on his trips abroad. He also took an
active interest in community and public affairs, and dur-
ing political campaigns was a frequent speaker.
The life of this worthy and progressive pioneer in
education suddenly terminated in 1906, when he had
reached the age of seventy-five years, but his work goes
on in the lives of the thousands who have passed out
from under his influence, bearing the indelible impress of
his spirit, to "carry on" in the communities now claiming
them as citizens. His representatives may be found in
nearly every state in the Union, as well as many lands
afar.
Pauline Schenk
April, 1928
70
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
SCOTT R. COPPINS
Scott R. Coppins was born November 7, 1861, in Hud-
son, Michigan. He came in childhood to Providence, Ill-
inois, where he went to the district school and attended
the village church. To this church in the late seventies
came Rev. George Paddock under whose winsome preach-
ing Scott Coppins, with many others, made his decision
for Christ, a decision from which he never varied. He
was an enthusiastic Bible student and believed the Bible
to be the very word of God.
He was in Oberlin College for a year, then went to
Beloit for two years. In the latter place he taught pen-
manship, his own writing showing that he was a past
master of that art.
In 1892 he was married to Carrie J. Evans. For ten
years Mr. and Mrs. Coppins made Chicago their home,
but in 1902 they came to Princeton and at once united with
this church. Mr. Coppins served twelve years as deacon,
eighteen years as Sunday-school superintendent in which
office he was indefatigable. As superintendent of coun-
ty Sunday-school work he visited every Sunday-school in
the county. He was sent as a delegate to the World Sun-
day-school Convention at Washington, D. C. From the
Bible Conference at Winona Lake, Indiana, he brought
back many helpful ideas. One of them, the Bible salute,
was in use as long as he served in the Sunday-school.
Mr. Coppins was interested in his town and commun-
ity in many ways not strictly religious. Young people
were his joy. Two generations of Boy Scouts knew him
as Drum Major and were always ready to cheer for him.
He also drilled the Drum Corps of the American Legion.
For ten years he was manager of our Chautauqua pro-
grams.
On December 5, 1930, he went to be with the Lord he
loved. The funeral services were held in the church and he
was laid to rest in Oakland Cemetery.
71
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Lucian Farnham
Elijah Smith
Alby Smith
E. S. Phelps
Jas. H. Smith
E. S. Phelps
Caleb Cook
C. S. Allen
E. S. Phelps
I. B. Smith
L. J. Colton
John Charlton
Curtis J. Lyons
John P. Richardson
L. C. Barrows
Albert Ethridge
W. C. Stacy
Chas. P. Hall
F. W. Waller -
E. F. Dunbar
R. D. Harrison
A. M. Swengle
G. T. Smith
J. R. J. Anthony
S. S. Evans
Reeve Norton
J. 0. Craig
S. S. Evans
J. 0. Craig -
F. W. Stewart
S. R. Coppins
T. P. Gunning
C. V. Field
Clara Allen Harris
Jos. Findley
S. R. Coppins
SUPERINTENDENTS
1834
1836
1841
1842-1849
1850
1851-1853
1854-1855
(6 months) 1856
1856-1857
(6 months) 1858
1859
1860-1863
(6 months) 1864
July, 1864-1866
- 1867-1868
1869
1870-1872
1873-1876
1877-1883
1884-1888
1889
1890-1891
1892-1894
1895-1897
1898-1899
1900
1901
1902
(died in June 1903) 1903
1904-1907
1908-1916
1917-1919
1920
1921-1922
1923-1925
1927-1930
72
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
STATISTICAL SECRETARIES OF THE
SUNDAY SCHOOL
At first the Statistical Secretary served also as His-
torical and Recording Secretary. In 1887 the Historical
Secretary became a separate official.
L. J. Colton; E. S. Phelps; John P. Richardson; Cal-
vin Winship (1858) ; Lucian Smith and Miss Sophia Love-
joy had served before 1862, but their terms of service are
not indicated.
G. T. Smith
1862-1864
?
- 1865-1870
Parish Love joy
1871
Lucy H. Smith
- 1872-1873
Mrs. Boltwood
- 1874-August-1878
Clara Allen (Harris)
1881-1887
Jennie Curtis
September, 1878-1880
Jennie Curtis
1888-1891
Mrs. Geo. Harrington
1892
Lottie Sickles
- 1893-1894
Grace Phelps (Sisler)
- 1895-1896
Lottie Sickles
1897
Bertha Evans
1898
Lottie Sickles
1899-1902
Minnie Naffziger
1903-1909
Edward Prior
1910-1917
Mary Uthoff
1918-1920
Marjory Garvin
1921-1922
Eva M. Greener
- 1923-November, 1928
Grace M. Hoover, December, 1928-October, 1930
T. A. Fenoglio
November,1930-
In 1887 Mrs. Julia Phelps was elected Historical Sec-
retary. In 1899 this was made a church office with a
report at the Annual Meeting. Mrs. Phelps held the office
until 1908 when she moved from the town.
73
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THE WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
The First Congregational Church of Princeton, Illin-
ois, was really born a missionary church when it was or-
ganized in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1831 and its
band of Christian workers sent upon its way to the untrod-
den wilderness and boundless prairies of Illinois, with this
parting and comforting message, "Fear not, little flock,
it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom."
It is recorded in circulars published at the time that "the
main object of the colony was not so much to promote the
private interests of its members as to advance the cause
of Christ by planting religious institutions in the virgin
soil of the West, and aiding the cause of Christian educa-
tion in its various departments."
Amid discouragements which would have dishearted
less loyal standard bearers, the work ultimately grew and
prospered, and its first foreign missionary achievement
was marked by the going out of two of its members, Mr.
and Mrs. Charles F. Winship, graduates of Knox College,
as missionaries to Mendai Mission, West Africa.
Its first great home missionary accomplishment was
the active part the church took in freeing the slaves. All
this was done long before any missionary society was or-
ganized, for it was not until 1870 that the women of the
church banded together in an organization to be known
as the "Woman's Missionary Society of Princeton", auxil-
iary to the W. B. M. I., which should have for its object
the enlisting of earnest and sympathetic aid for women
in foreign lands. Ladies paying two cents a week or $1.00
a year were considered members of the society. Meet-
74
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
ings were to be held every two months, or oftener if de-
sirable.
The first officers recorded in 1871, were
President, Mrs. R. B. Howard
Vice President, Mrs. Mary Keys
Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. Converse.
In 1881 Mrs. R. D. Harrison organized a young ladies
foreign missionary society known as the "What-so-ever
Band", and in 1884 a juvenile missionary society was
formed, called 'The Samaritan Band" of which Mrs. J. H.
Strock was the leader. Both of these organizations did
good work for a number of years.
Mrs. E. H. Votaw was the mother of the Home Mis-
sionary Society in the Church, when some time in 1892
the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society decided to devote
each alternate month to the study and work of home mis-
sions. Separate treasurers were elected and the work of
the two societies successfully functioned together from
that time on.
Deserving of especial mention in the Home Mission-
ary field is the wonderful work of Prof, and Mrs. G. By-
ron Smith at Iberia, Missouri.
The first event of especial interest in the Woman's
Missionary Society was the meeting of the Northern Illin-
ois Branch of the W. B. M. I. with the Princeton church
February 12, and 13, 1879. The church again entertained
the Illinois Branch of the Woman's Board in 1900, 1914 and
1925.
A social event of general interest was the beautiful
church wedding of Miss Lora Gale Simons and Mr. Edward
F. Carey, August 14, 1901. After a period of seventy years
the church was celebrating its first missionary wedding.
Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Carey left
for their new home and chosen field of labor in Harpoot,
Turkey.
75
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
That the church is not outgrowing its missionary in-
terests is evidenced by the fact that the treasurer's record
shows that during the five years from 1878 to 1882 in-
clusive, $336.73 was collected and disbursed by the so-
ciety, while in 1925, $292.00 was collected and disbursed
by the foreign treasurer and $268.00 by the home treas-
urer, a total of $560.00. At various times large amounts
have been raised for special projects, largest of which is
the Lora Simons Carey endowment fund, now totaling
about $800.00.
After the death of Mrs. Carey at Harpoot in 1906
the Missionary Society furnished the children's ward in
the missionary hospital at Harpoot, in her memory. Then
arose the question of maintenance and upon the sugges-
tion of Mrs. Arthur Seelig, through whose leadership much
of the money was raised, it was decided to create an en-
dowment fund of $500.00, the annual income from which
was to be used for the support of the ward. Before the
goal was quite reached, the Turks requisitioned the hos-
pital during the World War, and the missionaries were
driven from that field. Since then the fund has been in-
vested and constantly increasing, awaiting the time for re-
investment in another memorial for Mrs. Carey.
Among the women whose consecrated service in the
society most strongly inspired and perpetuated its growth,
are Mrs. Mary Keyes, Mrs. Lydia Anthony, Mrs. Chauncey
Colton, Mrs. Catlin Cook, Mrs. R. D. Harrison and Mrs.
F. W. Stewart.
"In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening
withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether
shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both
shall be alike good."
Pauline Schenk
June, 1928
.76
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
A TRIBUTE TO MR. AND MRS. E. F. CAREY
MISSIONARIES TO HARPOOT, TURKEY IN ASIA
One bright March morning thirty years ago, in an
elm shaded cottage in quiet old Princeton, a plump, rosy,
blue-eyed little girl opened her eyes to the light of day.
This delicate early spring blossom received a joyous wel-
come into the home and hearts of loving young parents, and
was christened Lora Gale Simons. A few years of happy
babyhood slip by, and we see a sweet-faced, smiling little
lassie trudging along to the public school, often accom-
panied by a slender fair-haired little lad named Edward,
who came from his grandmother Carey's spacious, old
fashioned home, beside whose long front walk Jnue
breezes scattered the blossoms from the old apple trees,
and peonies, snowballs, and flowering-almonds vied with
each other in blooming time beckoning one on and up to
the broad piazza and wide front door where pine trees cast
their shadow ever and anon.
Summers came and summers went, and many happy
care free years were spent in this dear old home, aften
enlivened in vacation times by Edward's sister and other
friends.
The little lass has developed into a winsome maiden
universally beloved by her companions, and the lad into
a youth whose bright keen intellect has already attracted
the attention of the teachers; and always and everywhere
they are known as Ed and Lora. Princeton High School
days are followed by teaching, normal and college training
for Miss Simons; and Ann Arbor and Andover for Mr.
Carey, where at each place fine scholarship records were
obtained.
August 14, 1901, there is unusual stir about the old
home church. Happy young people are hurrying about,
quanities of flowers and garlands green are being carried
in, and the inquiring passer by is informed that it is Mr.
77
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Carey's and Miss Simons' wedding day, and that after sev-
enty years the church is celebrating its first missionary
wedding. Mr. Carey has chosen a foreign field, and the
woman of his choice with true loyalty responds, "Whither
thou goest, I will go ; and whither thou lodgest, I will lodge ;
thu people shall be my people, and thy God my God."
The rose-tinted memory of that beautiful ceremony
still lingers with the church full of friends who bade them
God speed as they started away full of enthusiasm and
good cheer to that far away field of usefulness, Harpoot
in Eastern Turkey. A fortnight was spent in visiting fam-
ily friends among the green hills of Vermont, and August
28, 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Carey sailed away from the home-
land shores to their new home and strange new life in the
Orient. The voyage was safely made. About six weeks
of great pleasure and profit were spent in visiting inter-
esting places on the European continent, and then came
the hard but no less interesting journey from Constan-
tinople to their destination, which was also successfully
accomplished about November 1.
The study of the Armenian tongue was immediately
taken up by both; and Mr. Carey at once entered upon
his work of teaching in Euphrates College. He astonished
all of his co-workers with his remarkable ability at ac-
quiring the language, and in a few months was able to
make himself understood in the native tongue. Full of
energy, enthusiasm and the spirit, he also began at once
to go to the neighboring villages with an interpreter to
speak and preach on Sunday.
A new theological seminary building, to replace the
one burned in the massacre about ten years before, had
been planned, and soon after his arrival he entered into the
work of assisting President Riggs in the supervision of
its construction with great earnestness, performing many
hours of manual labor himself. Many of you are familiar
through Missionary literature with this comfortable new
78
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
building of which department Mr. Carey is the head.
Much of his vacation time has been devoted to touring,
and he has been eminently successful in this line of work,
as well as in that of teaching.
Of him, Miss Bush said here two years ago, that he
had proven himself a true winner of souls.
Very early in her life as a foreign missionary Mrs.
Carey was put to the sore test of invalidism, being con-
fined to her bed nearly a year, and despairing of ever be-
ing able to walk again. Of these trying days Mrs. Knapp
wrote, "She taught us all a lesson by the ever sweet
patience which was always manifest." But the Master
had work for her to do, and in His own good time she was
restored to comparative good health. The orphanage
work appealed to her tender sympathetic heart, and be-
fore her illness she had became a valuable assistant to
those in charge of that department. Then the degradation
and poverty of the poor half-starved mothers who had no
work to do to provide for their little children wrung her
heart, and she determined to do something to help them.
Many of you are familiar with the history of the lace
industry founded at Anitab by Mrs. Shepherd, and at
Oorfa by Miss Shattuck, nearly ten years ago, just after
the great massacre in which hundreds of Armenian men
were killed, and their homes robbed, and the wives and
daughters left to suffer the indignities of lustful soldiers
and hardships of an inclement winter. The American
missionaries promptly appealed to American Christians,
and thousands of dollars were sent there as a relief fund.
Hundreds of poor women were given employment making
garments and even carrying stone and mortar for the
buildings which had to be put up again. The work for
the children soon grew into permanent establishment for
orphans where over a thousand boys and girls receive
up to the present time, clothes and education, and prom-
ise to become leading citizens when they are again sent
79
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
out among the people. But this relief money and relief
work were both soon exhausted. The shirts were all made
and the missionary houses all rebuilt.
What was to become of the hundreds of poor women.,
and daughters too old to go to school, and too poor to
marry? There is absolutely no way for a lone woman in
this part of Turkey to earn her own livelihood. How
could these women save their virtue or their lives? This
harrowing question Mrs. Shepherd and Miss Shattuck solv-
ed. They determined to revive among the women the lace
industry. This making of lace, which in the olden time
had been the fancy-work and delight of rich and noble
families, was now to be made to earn bread and cheese
for the needy. So with great difficulty, undaunted courage
and a stupendous amount of labor a lace industry was
started in Anitab and Oorfa which met with immediate
success, and has now grown to such proportions as to
give employment to over 2000 women. Such an industry
Mrs. Carey determined to start for just the same kind of
women in Harpoot, and in November, 1903, the beginning
was made. A teacher was procured, and money enough
secured, mostly from the private funds of missionaries, to
enable seven women to begin the work. Mrs. Carey then
wrote to many of her friends in America, and to her
home church for help, and glad responses were made, but
the amounts of money were small. At the end of one year
the number of workers had increased to forty, and at the
close of the second to nearly 100, with many eager ones
on the waiting list, and there she had to draw the line
fearing she had gone too far. Many times she had to go
down on her knees and tell the Lord that she didn't know
where the money was coming from to pay her women,
but it always came, and sometimes in most unexpected
ways.
But for lack of capital, 200 women could have easily
been provided with work as 100. As the skill of the women
80
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
increased, the amount paid out each week reached the sum
of one and a half English pounds. A skillful worker can
earn fifteen piasters a week, which in purchasing power
er is equal to more than $5.00 in American money. So
you see that the suffering and idleness already alleviated
in these women's homes are a guarantee of the value of this
form of industrial mission. At the close of the second year
Mrs. Carey began to feel that the work had reached a good
financial basis, and the third year opened with a most
encouraging outlook, when suddenly a great sorrow over-
cast the mission.
Mrs. Carey was dangerously ill, and after a few days
of intense suffering the precious benefactor of so many,
laid down her labor of love. And now,
"Where the Orient sunshine falleth
Where her golden crown was won,
In that far-away mission garden
She is resting, her work is done."
I cannot attempt to describe the grief of the native
women, among them, the "Brides' Class' which had also
been one of her especial charges, when their great loss
became known; but loving hands have taken up the lace
industry which is now under the supervision of Mrs. At-
kinson, wife of the missionary doctor, and in memory of
our sainted friend, shall not we of our abundance give
generously to carry on the work so well begun?
Written for Bureau Ass'n. Meeting 1906
by Pauline Schenk
81
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
G. BYRON SMITH
Some years ago there appeared in the American Maga-
zine an article by Bruce Barton entitled ' 'Smith of Iberia."
It was the story of an unusual piece of educational work
that was being carried on among the Ozark hills in Mis-
souri. Far from any large city, twelve miles distant from
a railroad, in the small village of Iberia in the fall of 1890,
a young man by the name of Smith, assisted by his wife,
had opened an academy in order that the young people of
the surrounding country might have the opportunity to
secure a higher education. Both Mr. Smith and his wife
were graduates of Knox College, and were imbued with
the idea of the value of the classical and cultural studies
as the best foundation for the building of sound charac-
ter and a broad citizenship. After more than three decades
of effort so notable a work of education was being accom-
plished that it came to the attention of the American Maga-
zine and the story of "Smith of Iberia" found a place in
its pages.
"Smith of Iberia" was none other than G. Byron Smith
who grew to young manhood in Princeton. He was born
here June 7, 1865, being the only son of Mr. and Mrs.
S. J. Smith, for many years residents of this place. His
mother was a devoted member of the Princeton Congre-
gational Church, a spiritually minded woman who cherish-
ed the highest ideas for her son. Byron, too, held his
membership in this church for some years; and he inherit-
ed the traits of lofty idealism of his mother.
He was graduated from the Princeton High School in
1884 and a year later found him enrolled in the Freshman
class of Knox College, at Galesburg, Illinois. He chose the
classical course and made an excellent record therein. Dur-
ing his college course he became devoted not only to the
pursuit of the classics but equally devoted to the pursuit
of a fellow student of the classics, Miss Mabel White, a
82
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
member of his own class. And the picture of Byron and
Mabel strolling leisurely under the elms between "Old
Main" and "Whiting Hall' is still vivid in the memory of
the students of those days. Each graduating with the de-
gree of B. A. from Knox in the class of 1889, news of their
marriage a short time after brought no surprise to their
friends.
However, some of their friends were surprised in the
fall of 1890 when it was reported that Byron and Mabel
had gone into the back woods of Missouri and were try-
ing to start an academy. "One of Byron's dreams", said
some, "too visionary ever to become a reality." But Byron
was a man not only of vision, but of faith also ; and such a
combination always brings results.
Forty years have passed since that opening day.
What a contrast is presented between conditions then and
now! On that first day of October, 1890, among the stu-
dents that presented themselves for admission, only one
was found prepared to enter upon the proposed course of
study; so that it was necessary to offer a year of prep-
aration for the regular academic course. Today two years
of junior college work are offered in addition to the regu-
lar academy courses and the annual combined enrollment
in the academy and junior college is about one hundred
twenty students. Then there was but one meagerly equip-
ped building. Now there are five good buildings on a
campus of twenty acres; a library of seven thousand vol-
umes; an endowment of $100,000.00; a property valued at
$150,000.00 and not one penny of indebtedness. Then there
was not a single high school within ten counties around;
and many of the public schools had terms of from three
to six months' duration. Today the schools of central Mis-
souri are going much higher grades of work, and many
high schools have sprung into being in the surrounding
counties. Who can say how much Iberia College has done
to stimulate the educational life of that entire region?
83
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
During the academy's existence more than two hun-
dred have been graduated from its courses, and of that
number seventy-five per cent have gone on to complete a
college course. And former students of the academy are
' 'making good" in all walks of life through all the region
round about. The thought and life of the local community
have been deeply influenced by the academy during its
forty years of steady expansion. Many were the obstacles
to be surmounted especially in the early years of the
school life. But with the backing of loyal friends in the
Congregational churches of the state, particularly in St.
Louis, Mr. and Mrs. Smith held steadfastly to their pur-
pose with the result that their names deserve to be hon-
ored among the true builders of a better world.
During these two score years, crowded with activity
in the class room and with administrative work, Mr. and
Mrs. Smith always kept in touch with progressive ideas
in the field of education, but were never swept off their
feet by the clamor for vocational courses as over against
the so-called cultural subjects. Twice during different sum-
mer vacations they were enabled to go abroad and thus
bring added interest to their classes, by linking modern
Greece and Rome with those ancient civilizations.
On different occasions Mr. Smith filled the pulpit of
the local Congregational church, and his name has at times
appeared on the programs at the State Conferences of
that denomination.
Enthusiasm for his work has enabled this man to
achieve success in his chosen field of labor attained by
only a few. The inspiration for the service he has ren-
dered he attributes to his mother, to the Princeton Con-
gregational Church and to Knox College.
The Princeton church is proud to place the name of
G. Byron Smith on her roll of honor, and will always be
glad to welcome this modest unassuming man who still
calls Princeton his home. E. B. Cushing.
84
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
TWO HOME MISSIONARIES
In January, 1890, Miss Carrie Segar and Miss Emma
Harwood joined the church coming to Princeton from Can-
ada, Mississippi, where they taught colored children under
the charge of the Freedman's Bureau. Miss Harwood had
been a nurse in the Civil War. While working together in
Mississippi, they became fast friends and there began the
copartnership in their lives which continued unbroken un-
til the death of Miss Segar, September, 1920, a period of
over fifty years. Service for others was their life aim.
Both were highly esteemed by the Ladies' Aid and by their
associates in fellow church work. Their memories will be
cherished by many to whom they gave needful and timely
Christian assistance and direct help in extremity. Their
Princeton home is still known as "Saints' Rest."
MARCIA M. SMITH
Miss Marcia Mi Smith was born in Burlington, New
York, September 20, 1806. She joined the church in Gou-
veneur, New York, April, 1824. She went out to the Sand-
wich Islands as a teacher in the seventh reinforcement
from Boston in December, 1826, and arrived there the fol-
lowing April.
She was stationed at Kaneohe, on Calu, September 1,
1837. She was transferred to the school at Punahon in
1842 where she remained until her return to the United
States in 1853. She united with the Princeton Congrega-.
tional Church in 1853. She spent her last days in the home
of Joseph Allen of Dover, Illinois and is buried in the old
Cemetery at Dover. She was a sister of Mrs. Lorenzo
Lyons, a missionary in the Sandwich Islands, and her
nephew, Curtis Lyons, was for a time superintendent of
our Sunday school.
85
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
CHARLES FREDERICK WINSHIP
Charles Frederick Winship was born in New Hart-
ford, New York. He came to Illinois with his father's
family in 1833. He united with this church in 1836 on
confession of faith, and was graduated from Knox College
with an A. M. Degree in 1853. September 18, 1859, a Coun-
cil ordained him for a missionary to West Africa. He must
have gone out at once for in June, 1860, a letter from him
was read in the Sabbath school, which was written at Don-
di, Mendai Mission, West Africa. About 1861 Mr. Winship
was married in Africa, to Sarah , a Scotch woman,
probably a missionary. His health failed and he with his
wife came to Princeton in 1863. He bought a home here in
which they lived until his death in 1865. He and his wife
are buried in Oakland Cemetery.
February 3, 1861, the Sabbath school received a letter
from Barnabas Root, a protege of Reverend Chas. F. Win-
ship. He was a native of the locality of the Mendai Mis-
sion in which Mr. Winship labored and is spoken of as "an
African youth about five years from the bush." When Mr.
Winship came home he brought this young man with him.
July 5, 1863, Barnabas Root was present at the Sabbath
school and it is recorded that he was in Mr. James Smith's
class. Where he got his preparatory education is not now
known but he entered Knox College in 1866 and graduated
with an A. B. Degree in 1870. He also secured a medical
education and returned to Africa a full fledged M. D. with
high hopes of serving his people. He died in 1877 in Africa
86
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
The young people of the Princeton Congregational
Church have always been interested in the work of the
church. A young people's prayer meeting was inaugurat-
ed and carried on under the personal direction of Dr. Ed-
wards during his pastorate. His own family contributed
largely to the success of this helpful service and the young-
people enthusiastically upheld this meeting. When Dr.
Stephen A. Norton came to be pastor in 1884, the Christian
Endeavor Movement was in its fourth year and was rapid-
ly increasing in popularity. Miss Emma V. White had be-
come interested in the workings of this society from per-
sonal knowledge in other places, and at her suggestion Dr.
Norton called a special meeting of the "Young People's
Prayer Meeting" to consider forming a Christian Endea-
vor Society here. The call that was sent out for this meet-
ing was dated December 28, 1887, and was as follows:
"At the Young People's meeting on January first 1888
we will consider the 'Society of Christian Endeavor' and
if best will organize at once. May not I count on your
presence and help? Let us begin the New Year with a
new endeavor. Sincerely yours,
(Signed) S. A. Norton."
In response to this call the Christian Endeavor Society
was formed on January 1, 1888. Its first officers were J.
Clyde Smith, President, E. A. Stem, Vice President, Ed.
Mercer, Secretary-Treasurer, Bertha Forbes, Chairman of
Lookout Committee, M. Elizabeth Reed, Chairman of Pray-
er-meeting Committee, and Emma V. Khite, Chairman of
Temperance Committee. The slogan "For Christ and the
87
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Church" fired enthusiasm amongst the young people and
by the second half of the first year many new names had
been added to the membership. It was the policy of the
secretary to change officers every six months so that all
members took responsibility. This proved a strong point
in the training for service.
In the days of the C. E. Bureau County Union large
delegations were sent to the conventions and the banner
for the largest numbers was often brought home to
Princeton.
From time to time new committees were added to the
original three. The Missionary Committee raised quite
large sums of money and sent barrels of clothing to needy
places. The Social Committee tried to carry out the ob-
ject of the Society's existence, "to promote an earnest
Christian life among our members and to increase their
mutual acquaintance.,, Many good times resulted and life-
long friendships formed.
In 1910 an attempt was made to promote missionary
study by the purchasing of ten missionary volumes. This
began the Library which was added to for a number of
years. It contained many standard volumes on missionary
topics.
In the Historical Secretary's annals we find allusion
to the helpfulness of the young people. We find her say-
ing: "Christian Endeavor means work. Leaders of the
weekly meetings have no slight task to make them bright
and helpful. The Church appreciates their help."
Sometime during the presidency of Mrs. Charles J.
Morris (1897-1898) the Society sponsored a concert given
by the Ladies' Symphony Orchestra of Boston. One hun-
dred dollars had to be guaranteed. This venture was en-
thusiastically supported. Hard work was rewarded, for
when the profits were counted they found two hundred
dollars to their credit.
88
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
The first Junior Christian Endeavor Society was form-
ed during the pastorate of the Rev. E. H. Votaw in 1892.
Miss Agnes Robinson was its first superintendent. After
some years of usefulness it was merged with the Senior
Society. (Records are not found concerning this). It was
re-instated during Rev. Lee's pastorate and was a lively
organization for a few years under Mrs. Lee's magnetic in-
fluence.
The ebb and flow of young people's work during the
years has been interesting to study. Now the effective
method seems to be that of merging with other denomin-
ations of City and County. Large and enthusiastic gath-
erings are held and groups attend Summer Conferences at
Tower Hill where the spirit of devotion to the Church is
kindled and training for service imparted to the earnest
young people who attend. Thus God-given impulses are
carried into action and the old slogan, 'Tor Christ and the
Church" is carried on and efficient service rendered.
Carrie Dunbar.
89
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THE DELTA ALPHA SOCIETY
In the year 1903 the Rev. John W. Welsh was chosen
pastor of the Congregational Church. Shortly after Mr.
Welsh began his pastorate, his wife, Mrs. Mary W. Welsh,
organized a Sunday school class already in existence into
what is now known as the Delta Alpha Society. The group
as organized consisted of about twenty-five high school
girls. Mrs. Welsh was a diligent worker and did her utmost
to interest the girls in the Sunday school and the church
itself.
The aim of the Delta Alpha organization is not only
to learn to be Heavenly-minded, but to grow in grace
through exercising the spirit of grace toward one another.
Our objective is the cultivation of the spirit of friendship.
This is given its highest and holiest interpretation, — that
of pure, self-forgetful love. An oriental water pitcher,
such as is used for bringing water from the common well —
a fitting reminder of the daily toil and servitude of women
of the Bible lands — is the emblem of the class, and this
token is also found on the class pin.
Since the time the Rev. and Mrs. Welsh left Princeton
the Delta Alpha Society has had a number of teachers.
All of these teachers have been most helpful and loyal, and
the class feels indebted to them for their efforts to help
the class members to put First Things first in their lives.
The years have come and gone, but the Delta Alphas
have steadily progressed, not only in membership, but in
the work of the Church. They have now a membership of
sixty. The meetings are held the second and fourth Tues-
days in each month. Officers are elected each year and
committees appointed.
90
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
It can truly be said of the Delta Alphas that a splendid
feeling of friendship exists among the members and a deep
feeling of loyalty.
During the World War the Delta Alpha Society work-
ed diligently. In the year 1917 the class met each week
at the church and Needlework Guild rooms making band-
ages, garments, pillows, slings and various surgical dress-
ings, as well as knitting socks, helmets, sweaters, and other
articles.
The Delta Alphas have suffered losses in their ranks
when Death has entered and taken some of the loved mem-
bers. The following are members who have been called to
meet their Saviour face to face: Madge Ennis, Marjorie
Vaughan, Bess Morgan, Olive Lee, Louise Bryant, Ruth
Norton and Helen Williams.
The Delta Alphas have given generously of their time,
ability and finances in aiding the church to accomplish and
perform Christ's work in the world. The financial assist-
ance has been made possible by the untiring efforts of the
entire organization in the serving of market days, dinners,
suppers, luncheons, etc. The class members in many in-
stances have contributed the greater part of the food for
the dinners and the members have been helpful in both
the preparation and the serving. A small annual class fee
is also charged each member, which eventually finds its
way into church activities.
"There's richest joy in serving,
Thro sun and wind and rain;
In friendship's name to do and care
Makes life a glorious gain.
'Thro darkness and thro danger,
Unharmed we move along;
Tis friendship's light that safely leads
And makes our lives a song."
Ethel M. Sharp.
91
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
THE ELIZABETH CURTIS GUILD
In the year 1906 many of the women of the church
began to realize that there should be another woman's so-
ciety to help bear the burden of church work. The Ladies'
Aid which had labored so long and faithfully should have
their labors lightened by a new society which should in-
clude all the women not members of the Aid and all those
who were members, who cared to join both societies.
Mrs. Wilson Warfield suggested that a Guild be or-
ganized, and a meeting was called on February nineteenth
at the home of Mrs. John Delano, and officers were elected.
Just at this time one of our most dearly loved mem-
bers, Mrs. Elizabeth Curtis, was standing
"Beside that ancient gate way built up
in years gone by,
Upon whose top the clouds in eternal
shadows lie — "
looking wistfully back on her dear church where she had
spent so many happy hours, had worked so hard and sac-
rificed so much. It had been home to her and she had
made it home to others. And so these women, all of whom
loved her as a friend and fellow-worker, drew up a set of
by-law, beginning:
"This society shall be known as the Elizabeth Curtis
Guild. Its object shall be to continue in the First Congre-
gational Church of Princeton, Illinois the work Mrs. Curtis
so loved and to which she so faithfully gave her time and
strength — namely, to make the church helpful, homelike
and inviting to all who come to our town."
When Mrs. Curtis was told of this she was able to ex-
92
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
press her appreciation and pleasure, and the next day pass-
ed to that Home, where we cannot but feel that she was
welcomed as she had welcomed so many to her church
home here.
Lack of space prevents a list of officers, of deaths, of
marriages, nor can all that has been accomplished socially
and financially be told. Only a few outstanding items can
be given such as:
The decoration of the church and parsonage at var-
ious times and $200 paid on the church building debt. Plac-
ing a gas grate, mantel, window and radiator in the pas-
tor's study. Buying new dishes and silver. The new
kitchen and Sunday-school rooms in the basement. $150
toward the new roof for the church. A tablet placed to
the memory of M/iss Minnie Colesbury, donor of the church
clock and a contribution to the memorial fund for Lora S.
Carey. $200 toward furnishing a Church room at the hos-
pital. Five Christmas boxes sent to Mr. Day's school for
Mountain Whites in Tennessee. The yearly bazaar and
luncheon. The banquets on Mother's and Dad's Day, also
to such organizations as Rotarians, Lion's, City Beautiful
delegation, District Federation of Woman's Clubs, M. E.
Conference, W. B. M. I. and G. A. R.
Help was given to the Deaconess' Home at Dover, and
the churches at Cherry and Seatonville. A box of linen
was sent to Harpoot, Turkey, and $125 toward a children's
ward there. Lastly, the Guild appoints each year com-
mittees to decorate the pulpit aided by means of interest
from several gifts left for this purpose, thus carrying on
the labor of love performed for so many years by Mrs.
Curtis.
In the Guild record the names of some officers have
been repeated again and again, a number serving three
and four years. Special mention should be made of Mrs.
Bertha Sherwin who served faithfully ten consecutive
years as secretary, and Mrs. Grace C. Norris who is now
93
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
president and serving the ninth year with splendid con-
structive ability, both financially and socially.
Filling the offices has meant for these women hard
work, anxiety, discouragement, — yes, and happiness. Still
there are names not among the officers, of some too mod-
est, too self-effacing to accept office, yet whose very names
bring a feeling of confidence and respect for their ability
whenever they are mentioned, — women who have served
as heads of dinner committees many times, who have done
their own share of work and that of others on the flower
and pulpit decoration committee, who have cut out work
and sewed, and whose only reward has been the "well
done, thou good and faithful servant" heard in their own
hearts.
Such is the history of the Elizabeth Curtis Guild. May
the years to come be as profitable, as full of service, and
as happy with loving fellowship.
Kate Delano Barrett.
1930.
94
THE ALCOVE AND THE FIRST PIPE ORGAN
1865
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE CHOIR
In the old frame church the singing was by the con-
gregation and the only musical instrument was the tuning
fork. A letter written in 1898 by Frances Crittenden
Burge says: — "In the old days the leading singers occu-
pied the seats on either side of the speaker's platform
and all who could, joined in the hymns, set to familiar
tunes."
On March 4, 1840, a committee was appointed to "pro-
pose proper measures calculated to improve singing in the
church and to see about a supply of singing books." In
July of that year, two dozen copies of "The Manhattan Col-
lection of Sacred Music" was secured. In 1843 instruction
in singing was discussed. The purchase of a melodeon,
by the efforts of the women of the church, was the first
innovation upon primitive simplicity.
In the brick church (1848) there was a gallery over
the vestibule and the choir sat there. During the singing
the audience rose, turned around and faced the choir.
In January, 1849, it was resolved "that singing is a
part of religious worship and should be sustained by the
church" and $20.00 was voted for that purpose. They also
voted to permit the choir to practice in the church and
one dozen cheap candlesticks were to be purchased for their
use. In December of that year, Homer Winship was paid
$3.75 for candlesticks and lard. "The Plymouth Collection
of Hymns" was adopted in 1864 and that year Mrs. L. F.
Newell began a campaign for a pipe organ. In 1865 an al-
cove was added to the west end of the church in which the
first pipe organ was installed and the melodeon was used
for the Wednesday afternoon prayer meetings. Mrs. L.
95
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
F. Newell was the first organist. Izora Winship was the
second. Dr. G. T. Smith and J. Clyde Smith also served.
One, who sat in the audience, said "The church always had
good music and a fine choir." Another, "Well do I remem-
ber the magnificence of 'How Beautiful is Zion' as ren-
dered by that old choir. I have heard grand operas but
never one made the deep impression upon me which that
did". The first pipe organs were supplied with wind by
hand-pumped bellows. Usually the "pumpers" were lads of
the congregation and many are the stories they told, in
later years, of the hardships of that occupation. One of
the trustees objected to paying $20.00 a year for this ser-
vice. It wasn't worth that. He was advised to try it and
see, which he readily consented to do. By chance, a visit-
ing organist, intent on making an impression, put on all
the power available and by the time the service was over
the trustee, a small man, was a wreck. He never again ob-
jected to paying any price the boys demanded. A water
motor supplied power for a time, but was followed in 1916
by an electric motor. In the early seventies Nat Simons
was chorister and for years he with his wife, and Mrs. Cow-
ley and changing bassos sang not only at the regular serv-
ices but for innumerable funerals. In 1899 the second pipe
organ was purchased. Up to 1901 one of the interesting
events of the annual meeting was a discussion of music
and musicians. Since this did not always lead to the
happiest results, it was voted to transfer the duty of en-
gaging the choir to the trustees. Since 1917 a music com-
mittee has been chosen annually and to them is given the.
entire charge of the choir. At times a chorus choir has
been tried and in 1912 a male quartette sang. None are
left to tell of those early singers who gave their time and
talent with no thought of remuneration. Most of their
names are forgotten, but who doubts that they are still
praising God somewhere. Some still spoken of are Annie
Everett, Lizzie Walker, Nan W. Rawson, Bessie Morgan,
96
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Charles Bascom and Clarence Delano. Arvis Chapman is
said to have been a good leader, interested in the best
music. The list of those, still living, who have given serv-
ice in this choir is much too long to be given here, but
two of these deserve mention. Mrs. Tom Cowley sang for
us eighteen years and Miss Grace Farwell, the present or-
ganist, has served for seventeen years.
97
The Secular Affairs of
the Church
THE ANNUAL MEETING
STATE MEETINGS
FINANCES
THE SECULAR AFFAIRS OF
THE CHURCH
THE ANNUAL MEETING
On January 6, 1841, it was voted that there be an an-
nual meeting of the church on the Wednesday after the
first Monday in January at which time trustees shall be
chosen and all business pertaining to the church transact-
ed and that there be no other stated business meeting.
In October, 1851, it was changed to the first Wednes-
day of January. January 1890, at the suggestion of
Stephen Norton, pastor of the church, a church-family
dinner was served between the forenoon and afternoon ses-
sions. The annual meeting convened at 10:00 o'clock A. M.
On January 13, 1892, an "Order of the Annual Meet-
ing" was adopted and reports were asked from each de-
partment of church work. Sometime between 1916 and
1920 the time of the annual meeting was changed to 5:00
P. M. with dinner at 6:00 P. M. and business afterwards.
On November 3, 1916, it was voted to have a nomin-
ating committee before the annual meeting, said com-
mittee to represent every organization of the church and
Sunday school. From 1917 to 1921 quarterly meetings were
held. In January, 1928, the day of the annual meeting was
changed to Thursday.
STATE MEETINGS
The second Meeting of the Illinois State Association
was held here in August, 1845, 1897 and in May, 1904, the
year before the brick church was torn down.
The Illinois Branch of the Woman's Board met here
in 1879, 1900 and 1914.
101
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
FINANCES
The first entry about finances is dated October 31,
1838. Subscriptions amounted to only $382.00. Church
resolved to raise $600 by a tax on property, the trustees
to assess the tax.
July 8, 1840. Voted that trustees report who has
paid, how much and to whom, from whom dues should be
paid.
December 13, 1843. Voted to elect a treasurer who
should serve till a successor was elected. This treasurer
to pay salary quarterly and if there is not money enough
to cover the amount due, a note be given for the arrears,
to bear 10 per cent interest till paid. All members in ar-
rears shall also pay 10 per cent interest on their back "dues,
also a discount on dues paid before due.
January 1, 1845. Voted that members be taxed for
the support of needy members.
July 7, 1847. Subscription paper circulated for money
to build the new church.
October 17, 1847. Subscription paper to be circulated
outside of the church to raise money to build and that the
restrictions in the deed of ownership of pews be inserted in
the subscription paper. (Evidently the pews had been
sold before this, but nothing is recorded of it.)
January 3, 1849. Voted to offer fifty slips for sale in
the new house. Voted Dr. Converse, Sidney Smith, Joseph
Campbell, Eli Smith and C. S. Allen be a committee to ap-
praise the slips. Voted that the church raise $20.00 the
present year by assessment, for the purpose of sustaining
the singing. Voted that E. C. Winship, Caleb Cook and C.
D. Colton be a committee to appropriate said fund.
February 14, 1849. Voted to offer slips for public sale
February 28, 1869 at 9:00 a. m.
February 21, 1849. Voted that slips be sold on credit
for three months.
102
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
March 14, 1849. Voted that the trustees be authoriz-
ed to rent the ten slips, reserved for sale, at 10 per cent of
their relative value, from year to year, except so many
as may be necessary to supply families who are unable to
pay rent.
January 9, 1850. Voted that $25.00 be added to the
assessment for support of singing.
January 1851. Voted that all financial concerns be
conducted through the treasurer.
STANDING RULES
July, 1851
I. It shall be the duty of the trustees immediately
after the annual meeting to make out the assessment for
the year expenses and they shall also discharge all other
duties devolving on them as trustees.
II. All the ordinary expenses of the church shall be
defrayed by an annual assessment on the poll and estates
of the members, a poll being valued at $500.00, the trustees
having discretionary power, in individual cases, to abate a
portion of the assessment, or to exempt from such assess-
ment, Provided: it shall be the duty of the trustees, unless
otherwise ordered, to circulate a subscription among the
members of the congregation for the support of the minis-
try previous to making the annual assessment — the amount
thus raised by subscription to be deducted from the whole
amount to be raised.
III. Any member refusing to pay his assessment
shall, at the close of the year, be subject to the action of
the church for violation of church covenant without prev-
ious labor.
IV. It shall be the duty of each member, subject to be
taxed, to prepare and hand to one of the trustees, when de-
sired, a list of the real estate and personal property, sub-
ject to be taxed, owned by him, on the first day of January
103
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
of each year, with a statement of the amount he is in-
debted,, which shall be deducted from his said list in assess-
ing. If any member subject to be taxed shall refuse to
give in his list when requested, it shall be the duty of the
trustees to assess him such amount as they shall believe
equitable.
January, 1853. The assessment plan abandoned. Sub-
scription paper circulated.
January 5, 1859. Subject of changing method of rais-
ing funds debated.
January 19, 1859. Slips to be sold and subscription
paper circulated.
January, 1863. A manual was published, with this
about finances:
1. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to collect and pay over
all the funds to the church, but in no case without an order from
the trustees. At the annual meeting he shall make a report of all
the receipts and disbursements, his accounts having been previously
audited by the clerk of the trustees.
2. It shall be the duty of the trustees to hold the property and
manage the pecuniary affairs of the church, according to the laws
of this state. Said trustees shall be subject at all times to a directing
vote of the church and shall have no power to buy, sell or mortgage
or transfer property without a vote of the church. The Board of
Trustees shall make an annual report of their doings to the church.
3. Notice of business relating to the raising or disposition of
funds shall be given from the pulpit on the Sabbath before any
such business shall be finally acted upon.
January, 1876. Collection envelopes were offered for
those who would use them.
(For a short time in 1881 no collection was taken at
the evening service.)
November 3, 1916. The every member canvas was
adopted and Duplex envelopes began to be used. Previous
to the canvass, at the annual church dinner, pledge cards
are at each plate and many use these, and thus lessen the
labor of the canvass.
104
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE PARSONAGE
As early as January, 1859, there was talk of buying or
building a parsonage. Not until 1894 did it crystalize into
deeds.
On March 25, 1895, Catlin Cook offered to sell to the
church a lot on the corner of Thompson and South Church
for half its value, $350. The trustees gladly accepted his
offer. The parsonage was built at once and was first occu-
pied, in 1896, by the Rev. Edwin More, Jr. and family.
THE DINING HALL
A temporary building at the fair grounds, in which
to serve meals during the Bureau County Fair, had been
put up annually by the men of the church.
In August, 1894, the permanent dining hall was built
in which the united membership of the church caters to
the gastronomic needs of the crowds who come to the fair,
thereby adding each year a tidy sum to the general fund.
While this is primarily a money making enterprise, the
week's contact, shoulder to shoulder in homely domestic
service, is found to reveal abilities not suspected, and cre-
ate friendships that are a lifelong joy.
A FEW BUSINESS ITEMS
February 14, 1849. Voted that persons riding to
church have the privilege of building horsesheds on the
west end of the lot.
July 14, 1869. Voted a deed to Mrs. Keyes, for a
house, "as a donation. "
August 1, 1894. Voted to build a dining hall at the
fair grounds.
January, 1907. Voted to install a telephone in the
church.
May 23, 1907. Voted to abolish horse sheds.
105
Laborers in the Vineyard
THE MINISTERS
THE DEACONS
THE DEACONESSES
THE TRUSTEES
THE TREASURERS
THE HISTORICAL SECRETARIES
THE CLERKS
LABORERS IN THE
VINEYARD
MINISTERS
Rev. Lucian Farnham, October, 1835-October, 1838
Rev. Owen Lovejoy, October, 1838-December, 1855
Rev. Nathaniel A. Keyes, January, 1856-January, 1857
Rev. S. D. Cochran, - January, 1857-July, 1858
Rev. W. B. Christopher, - October, 1858-May, 1859
Rev. Samuel Day, - February-October, 1860
Rev. H. L. Hammond, - - May, 1861-May, 1862
Rev. D. H. Blake, - July, 1862-March, 1864
Rev. Flavel Bascom, - March, 1864-March, 1869
Rev. Rowland B. Howard, - June, 1870-July, 1875
Rev. Richard Edwards, October, 1875-October, 1884
Rev. Stephen A. Norton, November, 1884-October, 1891
Rev. Elihu H. Votaw, November, 1891-April, 1894
Rev. Edwin More, Jr., - October, 1894-July, 1898
Rev. James H. McLaren, October, 1898-January, 1903
Rev. John W. Welsh, - April, 1903-January, 1910
Rev. Benjamin M. Southgate, - - 1910-1911
Rev. Harold E. Parr, - March, 1912-January, 1915
Rev. Henry J. Lee, - April, 1915-February, 1923
Rev. Robert J. Watson, February, 1924-September, 1927
Rev. H. William Stiles, - November, 1927
109
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
LUCIAN FARNHAM
Rev. Lucian Farnham was the first pastor of the Hamp-
shire Colony Congregational church. He was a graduate of
Amherst College and Amherst Andover Theological Sem-
inary. He came to Illinois in 1830 under the auspices of
the American Home Missionary Society. He took charge
of the church near the close of 1833 and was installed
pastor October 21, 1835. He was a good Bible scholar and
was witty and vivacious. He labored most faithfully for
the prosperity of the church and community and his minis-
try was able and effective, but he dwelt more on the legal
aspects of the gospel than upon its invitations and tender
appeals. He was therefore to be counted among the
1 'Boanerges" rather than the sons of consolation, faithful
and uncompromising rather than winning and conciliatory.
He was an outspoken abolitionist and it is suspected that
his vigorous pronouncements on the subject of slavery
were the cause of the withdrawal in 1837 of twenty-four
members to form the Independent Congregational Church,
now the First Presbyterian Church of Princeton. Mr. Farn-
ham was also a stern disciplinarian and records show that
gossip and non-attendance upon the ordinances of the
church were summarily dealt with. During his pastorate in
spite of privations and embarrasments of pioneer life the
church kept up the weekly prayer meeting and the Sunday-
school, built a comfortable house of worship and added to
their membership, eighty-two by letter and forty on con-
fession of their faith.
In the summer of 1838, because of a throat trouble,
Mr. Farnham asked to be released for a season and he en-
gaged Rev. Owen Lovejeoy to supply his pulpit for six
months. In the spring of 1839 not being able to resume
his labors, and desiring to go east, the pastoral relation-
ship was dissolved at his own request. The last days of
his life were spent in Newark, Illinois. On his seventy-
110
REV. LUCIAN FARNHAM
DR. FLAVEL BASCOM
HON. OWEN LOVEJOY
DR. RICHARD EDWARDS
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
fifth birthday, July 9, 1874, after two days illness he fell
asleep, saying shortly before the end, "I shall spend part
of my birthday in heaven!" He is buried in Oakland Ceme-
tery, two and a half acres of which he himself gave to the
church for a burial place.
OWEN LOVEJOY
When it became necessary for Mr. Farnham to find
a supply for his pulpit, while he searched for health, Provi-
dence seems to have provided one. Owen Love joy was a
young minister looking for a position. He had come to
Princeton with no definite purpose and was glad to be of
service to both Mr. Farnham and the church. He was en-
gaged to preach for six months. At the end of that time
Mr. Farnham was still unable to take up the work and re-
signed. Mr. Love joy was at once asked to become pastor
of the church and in August, 1839, he accepted the call.
He had not been ordained and a council was called for
October 24, 1839, for that purpose. He belonged to the old
order of preachers — was what is commonly called "ortho-
dox". He believed in a God who guides men and nations,
in salvation through the atonement of a Divine Christ; in
the rejuvenating power of the Holy Spirit. He had no
doubt of the inspiration of the scriptures. He had vitriolic
language for the rum seller and the slave holder. He
preached what he believed regardless of what the people
believed and his grand old mother who sat down in front
encouraged him with her deep voiced "amens". He loved
people and this was no gesture for the good of the cause.
He was truly a great preacher, a great pastor and a great
friend. For seventeen years he swayed the hearts and
minds of this church and community. Then he listened to
the larger call of the nation and Congress heard the voice
that always rang true to freedom and righteousness. On
April 2, 1864, weeping people followed his body to Oakland
Cemetery, but his spirit of uncompromising fidelity to truth
has been a blessing to the church.
Ill
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
NATHANIAL ABBOTT KEYES
Nathanial Abbott Keyes was the third pastor of the
church. He was a native of New Hampshire, a graduate of
Dartmouth College, and a student at Andover and Lane
Seminaries. September 26, 1839, he was married to Mary
Pettegrew and in January, 1840, they sailed for Syria where
for four years he was a missionary of the American Board.
Health reasons compelled a return to the United States.
For three years he was in New England. In 1847 he went
to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where for eight years he was
pastor of the German Reform Church. In 1855 he was en-
gaged to supply the Hampshire Colony Church for one
year. Mr. Keyes was a typical New England clergyman,
austere, spiritual, other-worldly. He seemed too far above
ordinary humanity to really touch those to whom he min-
istered. He was with them but not of them. After the
fiery oratory and great hearted humanity of Mr. Love joy
this was too great a change and at the close of the year
Mr. Keyes accepted a call to the Congregational Church at
Griggsville, Illinois. On the eve of removal to that place he
contracted pneumonia and was suddenly removed from
earthly labor to heavenly reward. He is buried in Oakland
Cemetery as are his wife and two daughters.
In July, 1869, the church deeded to Mrs. Keyes a house
in which the family had a home until they one by one went
to the Father's House.
S. D. COCHRAN
S. D. Cochran, the fourth pastor, came in January,
1857, and was here until July, 1858, when he accepted a call
to another church. "His preaching was clear and discrim-
inating, enlightening and convincing through understand-
ing, quickening the conscience and aiming to turn men
from sin unto God and build them up into a true Christian
manhood.'' During his ministry fifty-one were added to
the church, twenty-seven on confession of faith and twen-
ty-four by letter,
113
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
W. B. CHRISTOPHER
W. B. Christopher was called in October, 1858, and ac-
cepted the call and began work. A church at Galena in-
sisted that they had a prior claim and he was obliged to
yield to their demands leaving Princeton in May, 1859.
Some of the church members resented this and insisted on
trying to recapture Mr. Christopher. When other candi-
dates were presented they still voted for Mr. Christopher.
SAMUEL DAY
Samuel Day was given a majority call in February,
1860. He accepted and entered upon his labors only to
find many disturbing conditions and resigned in October
of the same year. Now the Christopher adherents made a
strong effort to secure a unanimous vote to call him to the
pastorate. He declared he would not accept a "majority
call" and it is said the matter came to a vote fourteen times
in as many church meetings before it was finally dropped.
During these troublous days Albert Ethridge, princi-
pal of the Dover Academy, rendered valuable assistance as
a pulpit supply.
H. L. HAMMOND
In May, 1861, Rev. H. L. Hammond of Chicago was
asked to come to try to smoothe out the difficulties. He
came and told the church their differences were "not worth
a hill of beans" and that if they would promise not to speak
of them even in their bed-chambers, for one year, he would
serve them for that time. They promised and doubtless
kept their promise. National events soon obliterated local
troubles. Lincoln called for soldiers and Princeton gave of
her best. Mr. Hammond preached and talked emancipa-
tion. The church listened sympathetically and prayed for
the downfall of slavery. After the "National Fast Day", Sep-
tember 26, 1861, a petition to President Lincoln was drawn
up and signed by many urging him to free the slaves, as an
113
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
effort to end the war. This is supposed to be the first
communication of the kind he received. Before the year
was ended, Mr. Hammond said the last words on more than
one soldier's grave. During these stirring days, regular
church work was not forgotten and some yet remember
the Bible stories, without names, that he told to the chil-
dren. They were afterward published in book form. His
adult Bible class work was of great worth. After the bat-
tle of Shiloh he was called to help the Sanitary Commis-
sion; on his return to Princeton he was asked to become
pastor of the church, but declined, to accept a larger posi-
tion with the Chicago Theological Seminary.
D. H. BLAKE
In June, 1862, D. H. Blake received and accepted a
unanimous call and was installed July 16, 1862. During
the winter of 1862-3 he invited Dwight L. Moody, a young
Y. M. C. A. man from Chicago, to come to Princeton and
hold some meetings. He came, and Mrs. Camilla Dunbar
Richardson told, years afterward, how nervous the young
man was over these meetings and how she and her hus-
band got down on their knees and prayed with him before
they went. It is believed that this was the first time Mr.
Moody did any work outside of Chicago. On the first Sab-
bath of May, 1863, twenty-one young people united with
the church, as the result of these meetings. Mr. Blake
started a young people's meeting which was held in the
1 'James Smith Academy" Building. Mr. Blake resigned in
March, 1864.
FLAVEL BASCOM
Flavel Bascom was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, Jan-
uary, 8, 1804. He graduated from Yale College in 1828
and from Yale Theological Seminary in 1832. He was
one of the ten men who were called the "Yale Band," grad-
uates of Yale Seminary, who came west as home mission-
114
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
aries with the purpose of laying Christian foundations for
future building. He was ordained by the Sangamon Pres-
bytery in Sangamon, 1833, as an evangelist. In the winter
of 1839-40 he came to Chicago and was pastor of a Presby-
terian church, thus, until January, 1850. Then until 1855
he was in Galesburg, Illinois, with the "First Church of
Christ". After some missionary work he came to Dover,
Illinois, in 1859. Here he served the church and was one
of the prime movers in establishing Dover Academy, of
blessed memory. At Galesburg he had given much wise
council to the founders of Knox College. He accepted a call
to the Princeton church in March, 1864, and until March,
1869, made the spiritual interests of this community his
chief interest. He was influential in the organization of
the township high school and served for some years on the
Board of Education. Dr. Bascom was a young man's friend
and is so remembered today by men who are no longer
young. "He was deeply and actively interested in all
Christian enterprises, was an earnest promoter of anti-
slavery and temperance reform, of strict Sabbath observ-
ance, of missions and Bible study. He was an able, faith-
ful and successful minister of the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ". Dr. Bascom served as trustee of Dover Academy,
of Beloit and Knox Colleges and of the Chicago Theological
Seminary. At the close of his life he returned to Prince-
ton for the waiting time. He died on August 8, 1890, and
was laid to rest in Oakland Cemetery where his wife and
some of his children also wait the great day yet to come.
ROWLAND BAILEY HOWARD
The tenth pastor of the Congregational church of
Princeton, Illinois was Rowland Bailey Howard. He was
a brother of Gen D. D. Howard of the Civil War and found-
er of Howard University, Washington, D. C, and of Chas.
H. Howard, editor of "The Advance." He was born in
Leeds, Maine, on October 17, 1834. He prepared for col-
115
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
lege at Yarmouth Academy, graduated from Bowdoin Col-
lege in 1856. He attended Albany Law School (1856-57)
and was graduated from Bangor Theological Seminary in
1860. On August 21, 1860, he married Mary Ellen Patten
of Bath, Maine. He was ordained at Farmington, on
October 11, 1860, and was pastor in that church until 1870.
In June, 1870, he came to Princeton where he stayed un-
til July, 1875. During his pastorate there were three
weekly prayer meetings, a teachers' meeting and a month-
ly missionary meeting. The latter was held the first Sun-
day evening of each month. A little paper published by
him is still cherished by some of the members. It con-
tains a list of the church members, of the officers of the
church and Sunday-school, also the covenant and confes-
sion of faith, statistics of benevolences and additions to
church membership, and other interesting data with a
few devotional and helpful paragraphs. Collection envel-
opes were used the first time on January 26, 1873. Horse
sheds were built in September, 1874, and proved a joy to
the country folk. A new communion service was purchas-
ed in 1875 and the old one given to the A.M.E. church
of Princeton. Mr. Howard had the sorrowful duty of con-
ducting the funeral services for twenty-two of his adult
church members during the five years of his pastorate.
His own wife died on November 15, 1871. Being a man
of deeply sympathetic nature these experiences told plain-
ly on him. On September 12, 1873, Mr. Howard married
Helen Julia Graves of Farmington, Maine, and brought
her here to help care for his three motherless children.
After leaving Princeton Mr. Howard held pastorates at
East Orange, New Jersey, 1875-1879; Rockford, Mass-
achusetts, 1879-1881 ; and Pigeon, Cove, 1882-1885.
He was Secretary of the American Peace Society
from 1884 until his death, was a delegate to the Peace
Congress in Paris, 1889, in London, 1890, and in Rome,
1891. In Rome, Italy, he was ill and his labors added to
116
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
the troubles. He died there of exhaustion following an
operation for the removal of an abcess, January 25, 1892.
He was associate editor of "The Advance" from
1875 to 1882. He published two books, "The New Sym-
pathy of the Nation" in 1887, and "Electricity of Sermons",
1891.
RICHARD EDWARDS
Richard Edwards, the eleventh pastor of the Prince-
ton Congregational church, was born December 23, 1882,
in Cardiganshire, Wales. He was the eldest of Richard
and Ann Jones Edwards' ten children. He came with the
family to Ohio in 1833. His early life was full of pioneer
hardships, but by strenuous efforts he succeeded in com-
pleting the course of study at the State Normal School at
Bridgewater, Massachusetts in 1845. Later he graduat-
ed from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York,
with honors. He was engaged in educational work in
Massachussets until 1857 when he became president of the
city Normal School of St. Louis. In 1862 he accepted the
presidency of the State Normal University of Normal, Ill-
inois. After a dozen years in that school he had a strong-
desire to preach the gospel. Almost weekly he occupied
some nearby pulpit. The Congregational church at Prince-
ton was without a pastor and gladly availed themselves
of his services. In January, 1876, this church gave him
a call to become their pastor. He had found the double
demand of class room and pulpit too serious a tax upon
his strength and so resigned the presidency of the Nor-
mal University to accept the Princeton call. He said in
later years that he had always thought if the gospel were
presented in the right way it would be accepted. He was
the more readily persuaded to accept a pastorate because
he wanted to try out his own theory of preaching. His
sermons were intellectual treats, spurring men to high
ideals and right living. They are still remembered by
117
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
some who heard them. In the winter of 1876-77 a great
spiritual uplift came to the church in the "Hallenback
revival". Many were truly "born again" and forty-eight
new members came into the church. Dr. Edward was
deeply impressed by the messages given at this time. He
himself said he "was converted". Whatever he meant, it
is certain that his sermons had a new note of spirituality
and consecration that often took his hearer to the very
gate of heaven.
Dr. Edwards was a power in the community as well
as a leader in the church. He served on the Board of
Education. He lent his voice and influence to every good
work in the town. As a guest in the home he was de-
lightful. To meet him on the street was a pleasure and
his friendly handclasp was a thing to remember. The
eight years of his ministry made a deep and lasting im-
pression on the church and community. Failing eye-sight
demanded a change and on September 10, 1884, his resig-
nation was accepted with sincere sorrow. No sketch of
Dr. Edwards would be complete without some mention of
dearly beloved Mrs. Edwards. After her death a friend
wrote, "Dr. Edwards belonged to the nervous impulsive
energetic, positive, type with tremendous vitality that
made the air electric, but what shall we say of the noble
woman who stood shoulder to shoulder with him through
all the strenous years? She was so well poised, so calm
under all circumstances, so self contained at all times.
Most justly might she be termed the balance wheel of the
family". After leaving Princeton Dr. Edwards did some
educational work. He was State Superintendent of Public
Instruction for four years at Springfield.
After retiring to Bloomington, Illinois, in 1893 he
was president of the Brokaw Hospital trustees, frequent-
ly conducted services, was superintendent of the Sunday-
school, taught a Bible class, made addresses before relig-
ious and educational assemblies, was president of the
118
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
County Bible Society. He died at Bloomington, Illinois,
March 17, 1908.
STEPHEN ALISON NORTON
Stephen Alison Norton was the eleventh pastor of
the church. He was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania,
June 9, 1854, into a family that claimed a long line of
clear thinking men. His father served as chaplain in
Sherman's army and at the close of the war went to New
Richmond, Wisconsin, with his family, where he was pas-
tor of the Congregational church. Stephen Alison Norton
taught a country school at the age of sixteen and money
earned in this way and by summer work on the farm en-
abled him to enter the newly organized school at North -
field, Minnesota, known as Carleton College. After five
years here with interims of manual labor, to provide the
wherewithal for expenses, he entered Amherst College and
was graduated in 1878 with Plii Beta Kappa honors. After
a year at Hartford Theological Seminary and two years at
the Congregational Theological Seminary in Chicago, he
received his B. D. from the latter Seminary in 1881. He
was ordained at Amboy, Illinois, October 6, 1881, and in
June of that year he married his class-mate at Carleton,
Therina L. Hunt. He had been three and a half years at
Amboy, when his son Paul was born. He accepted the
call to the Princeton church in Novemebr 1884. Because
of the New England back ground of both Mr. Norton and
the church this proved a most satisfactory association. He
said in his farewell sermon, " I came determined to know
nothing among you but Jesus Christ and Him crucified".
God abundantly honored this decision by adding to the
church ninety-six members on confession of their faith
and fifty-six by letter during his seven years' pastorate.
On September 8, 1886, a tiny eight months old daughter
died and was buried in Oakland and Mrs. Norton's health
began to be seriously threatened. At last in October,
119
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
1891, Mr. Norton resigned in order to seek more kindly
climate in the orange groves of California. While he was
pastor of the First Congregational Church at San Diego
a fine new building was erected. Mrs. Norton's health
steadily failed and on March 1, 1897, she finished the
earthly life. In 1899 Mr. Norton married Mary F. Pen-
field of Rockford, Illinois, and their daughter Dorothy
was born in 1901. In 1902 Mr. Norton was called to the
First Congregational Church of Woburn, Massachusetts,
where he spent twenty happy years. In 1922 he decided
to retire from active service and went with his wife and
Dorothy to California, but was not yet permitted to rest.
The church at Manhattan, California, wanted his help and
for three years, during which time a church building was
completed, he served them well. At last in 1926 he built
him a home in Claremont and laid down pastoral duties.
In 1927 Mrs. Norton died. Mr. Norton and his brother,
Edwin C. Norton, opened a school for boys in 1927 of
which Frank M. Sleeper, Dorothy Norton's husband, is
head master. Mr. Norton has made his home with the
Sleepers since his wife's death. In 1897 Carleton College
honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. While
at Woburn he was director of the Congregational Educa-
tional Society, the Congregational Publishing Society
and a corporate member of the American Board. He also
served as president of the Boston Congregational Club.
He died while asleep on January 4, 1930. He wrote just
a day or so before the end, "If I were to live my life again,
I would choose to do it as a minister of the gospel of Jesus
Christ."
E. H. VOTAW
EUCHOLA V. PORTER
Elihu Hillis Votaw was born in Columbiana County,
Ohio, in 1836, of Quaker parentage. At the age of two
years his parents moved to Jay County, Indiana, where he
120
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
grew to manhood. He was graduated from Amherst Col-
lege in 1869, and was ordained a Congregational minister
in 1874 at Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Votaw's first churches
were in the suburbs of Cleveland, and in 1892, after sev-
eral successful pastorates in states of the Middle West, he
accepted a call to the First Congregational Church in
Princeton, Illinois. Mr. Votaw was an especially gifted and
scholarly man; a thoughtful student not only of the Bible,
history and literature but of the vital topics of the day.
He was in sympathy with modern Biblical scholarship, but
used its results with such care and wisdom as to commend
the gospel of Christ to all who came under the influence
of his preaching. His was a positive message to men of
the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. During his ministry in
Princeton sixty-two names were added to the church roll,
twenty of which were on profession of faith. Mr. Votaw
was also interested in community life and while in Prince-
ton founded and named the Belteonian Club, a literary or-
ganization which survived him many years. Reverend
Votaw left Princeton in 1896 and after five years of min-
istry in Iowa retired from active service and returned to
Princeton to spend his remaining days. His death oc-
cured after a brief illness upon March 4, 1902, at the home
of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. 0. H. Porter,
and interment was in Oakland Cemetery. Mr. Votaw was
married in 1859 to Miss Harriet Weber, a woman of charm-
ing personality and rare Christian character. Ever the
true comrade and helpmate of her husband, she played no
small part in helping him to achieve success in his pastoral
work.
EDWIN MORE
Edwin More, the fourteenth pastor of the church, was
born of Scotch parents in Delhi, Delaware County, New
York, February 21, 1852. Very early his parents moved
to Brooklyn, New York, and here in private schools he had
121
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
his preparatory education. He was graduated from the
Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. He
practiced law in New York City for fourteen years. In
1883 he married Anna Hoyt Reynolds of Aurora, Illinois,
and found in her companionship, strength, courage, and
comfort all the days of his life. She is still at the home in
Seattle.
His father was strongly opposed to religion and pro-
hibited any church attendance or reading of the Bible. Af-
ter Mr. More was thirty years old he happened, by chance,
to pick up a Bible, and, opening to Isaiah, began to read and
became so absorbed that he read on and and for hours. From
that day he was a constant Bible student. Church at-
tendance soon followed and in about a year he made a
public confession of his faith in Christ, uniting with the
Pilgrim Congregational Church of Brooklyn, New York.
The pastor of this church, Rev. Samuel H. Virgin, became
his life long friend and adviser. It was his influence that
led Mr. More to undertake the work of the ministry. He
entered the Congregational Theological Seminary at Chi-
cago in 1888 and was graduated in 1891. From 1894 to
1898 he preached a clear and faithful gospel in the Prince-
ton pulpit. His sermons showed his fine legal training. He
ever threw his whole soul into the doing of any Christian
service, be it great or small. Not long after leaving here
failing health necessitated a move to the Pacific coast.
There for nearly twenty years so far as strength permit-
ted, he cared for needy home missionary churches, giving
the best he could to the "least of them". After a losing
fight for health he gladly answered the call of his Master
on January 13, 1924.
JAMES H. McLAREN
Rev. Jas. H. McLaren, the fifteenth pastor of the
church, was born at Bay Fortune, Prince Edward Island,
September 26, 1863. His parents were of Scotch descent
122
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
"with just enough Irish to make it interesting". His
education was obtained under difficulties and at various
institutions of learning. His first years of preaching were
done while carrying on studies in nearby colleges. He was
ordained on August 12, 1890, at Phillips, Missouri. He
was called to the Princeton church in the fall of 1898 and
remained till December, 1902. The slight burr on his
tongue made him a delightful reader of Scotch literature.
Good audiences came to listen to his messages. While
here he published his first book, "Put Up Thy Sword". He
wrote several books on history and religion and many poems.
A few years after leaving Princeton he entered the larger
field offered by the Chautauqua platform where he proved
a popular speaker. His home after 1913 was in Pasadena,
California, where he died in 1928. His widow, Mrs. Glen-
nio Lane McLaren, survives him.
JOHN WALLACE WELSH
John Wallace Welsh was born in Almira, New York,
February 25, 1875, and with his family went to Newton,
Kansas, in 1882. In the schools of Newton his education be-
gan. After a year in Southwest Kansas College he came
to Northwestern University where he received his B. A.
in 1901 and M. A. in 1902. He had already done home
missionary work in Kansas and during his university
course he supplied various Chicago churches. He came
to Princeton in April, 1903. At once he impressed these
people with his fine personality. He preached and prac-
ticed a gospel of faith and confidence. His mid-week
messages were carefully prepared and were a source of
strength to the many who came to hear him. He organized
and carried on a children's church and made sure that
the children understood the meaning and responsibility of
church membership. He was a sympathetic and under-
standing pastor. The Billy Sunday meetings in January
and February of 1906 found in him a strong supporter
123
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
and later he was associated, for two years, with Mr. Sun-
day in his evangelistic work. An insistent call from the
California Ave. Church of Chicago won him from Prince-
ton in December, 1909. Since then Mr. Welsh has held
several pastorates, notably one at Wheaton, Illinois, where
he also served as acting president of Wheaton College after
President Blanchard's death. He was over seas in Y. M. C.
A. work. He has also been associated with Bible Institute
wrork and is now field secretary for the Chicago Bible So-
ciety.
BENJAMIN M. SOUTHGATE
Benjamin Southgate was born in Woodstock, Vermont.
His early education was in the school of that town. He was a
"Key Man" from Williams College, Williamstown, Massa-
chusetts. After teaching a short time he entered the Con-
gregational Theological Seminary at Chicago and in 1896
received his D. D. He came to Princeton in January, 1910,
from Toledo, Ohio, where he had been for some years Asso-
ciate District Secretary of the Congregational Sunday-
school and Publishing Society. This connection with Sun-
day-school work and being in Marion Lawrence's great Sun-
day-school in Toledo, Ohio, gave him an unusual vision of
the value of work with young people and the place and
power of the Sunday-school in the life of the church. He
soon stirred new interest in the Sunday-school lesson by
questions on the lesson, which were printed on the last page
of the weekly church bulletin. These were to be answered
and returned to the teacher. He also introduced the plan
of excelsior membership, excelsior and star classes and the
Bible salute which still form a part of the opening exercises
of the Sunday-school. He was interested and helpful in the
young people's organization. The church cabinet composed of
the officers of the church met once a month for prayer
and council. He was a diligent Bible student and brought
to the mid-week meeting messages from the old Book that
were comfort and joy to those who heard them. The
124
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
weekly church bulletin contained in addition to the pro-
gram for the day items of interest to church people. Some
of these have proved valuable in determining dates of
certain events. Mr. Southgate accepted a call to Hannibal,
Missouri, in January, 1912. During the eighteen years
since then he has held several pastorates; at Rochester,
Mississippi, he saw a fine new church building completed ;
in ten years at Algona he had the joy of receiving two
hundred and seventy new members into his church. He
is now pastor of the Congregational church at Britt, Iowa.
HAROLD E. PARR
Harold E. Parr, the eighteenth pastor of the church,
was born in Birmingham, England, February 8, 1887. His
early education was in the public schools of Birmingham.
He came to the United States in 1908 and entered the
University of Chicago, passing from there to the Congre-
gational Theological Seminary of Chicago. He was grad-
uated from the Seminary in 1912. He was ordained in
the Wellington Ave. Congregational Church, Chicago, May
7, 1912, and immediately began his work at Princeton.
With his winning personality and the enthusiasm of youth
he soon won many friends. He had a remarkable pulpit
voice and his singing was a delight. Music was a joy to
him and he brought to his people an appreciation of our
grand old hymns and tunes that was contagious and last-
ing. The young people rallied about him, willing to do
whatever he advised. He had a keen appreciation of the
best literature and was able to adapt the words of wise
men to the every day needs of the people he addressed.
In the fall of 1915 a church in Waterloo, Iowa, offered at-
tractions he could not resist and he resigned this pulpit,
returning in June to claim Ruth J. Makutchan, a Prince-
ton girl, as his bride. In February, 1918, he accepted a
call to the New England Congregational Church of Aurora,
Illinois, and in November of the same year became a vic-
125
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
tim of that scourge, the "flu". His body was brought
to Oakland, Princeton for burial, November 27, 1918.
HENRY J. LEE
Henry J. Lee, the nineteenth pastor of the church,
was born in Liverpool, England, April 9, 1888. His early
education was in the Council School and the Evening Con-
tinuation School of that city. At fourteen he began to
earn his own bread and butter. He was converted in the
old fashioned way at sixteen and claims that this exper-
ience has never been regretted and gives him sympathy
for those who cannot point to the day and hour. At twenty
he became assistant pastor of the Protestant Reforms
Church in Liverpool. Here he was associated with the Rev.
George Wise, a great and good man, whose wise counsel
and rich personal influence have ever been a source of
strength. Mr. Lee came to the United States in 1910 and
entered the Moody Bible Institute from which he was grad-
uated in 1912. From there he went to the Congregational
Theological Seminary of Chicago and received his B. D.
in 1915. (Central University of Indiana gave him his B. A.)
He began preaching at twenty and was a "student pastor"
during all his student days, financing his education in this
way. On May 28, 1914, he was married to Olive Muton of
Mayfair, Illinois. He accepted the call to Princeton in April,
1915, and for eight years preached a vigorous gospel of
faith. Because he believed what he said his words found
lodgment in the hearts of his hearers. His daughter Hen-
rietta was born here October 15, 1917, and his wife, gentle
Olive Muton Lee, died during the "flu" epidemic of March
1920. In August, 1921, a young woman with whom he had
been associated in Christian work in Liverpool, came across
the sea to renew that experience. Mr. Lee met her in
New York and they were married August 29, 1921. With
her charming English speech and her fine cultured mind
she has proved a blessed helpmate, Early in 1923 Wo-
126
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
burn, Massachusetts, tempted Mr. Lee to a New England
experience but after two years a call of the west was heard
and since October, 1925, he has been pastor of the First
Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
JAMES ROBERT WATSON
James Robert Watson was the twentieth pastor of the
church. He was born in South Shields, England and came
to the United States in 1913. He is a graduate of Coulton
College, Northfield, Minnesota and of the Congregational
Theological Seminary in Chicago. He accepted the call to
the church in February, 1924. He had high ideals of a
minister's duty to the community and was connected with
many of the social circles of the town. He was president
of the Lion's Club. During the winter of 1925 he solved
the problem of the evening services by conducting a Sun-
day Evening Club. He brought to these meetings outside
speakers and good audiences came to hear their messages.
He listened to a call to the larger field at Lombard, Illinois
and resigned his pulpit in September, 1927.
HUBERT WILLIAM STILES
H. William Stiles, A. B., D. B., the present pastor,
came of an educated family; his father, mother, aunt,
brother, three sisters, wife and her brothers and sister,
and his daughter are all Oberlin graduates. His father
and mother were members of Charles G. Finney's church
in the days of the anti-slavery agitation. His father, a
Civil War veteran, and later a Congregational minister,
died in middle life leaving his wife with a family of five
children to bring up and educate as best she could. Hu-
bert William Stiles graduated from Oberlin College in 1896
and from Oberlin Seminary in 1899, studying under
ex-President James Fairchild, Henry Churchill King and
Edward I. Bol worth.
His first pastorate was at Ada, Minnesota, where the
127
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
church prospered and built a good little brick church of
late English Gothic style. After seven years he went to
Dundee, Illinois, serving there ten years and receiving more
than two hundred into membership and building a brick
parsonage, after putting a pipe organ of unusual quality
in the church.
A few months after retiring to a farm in Wisconsin,
his wife, who had been in failing health, died. There he
married again, remaining in all ten years, running a Hol-
stein dairy farm, until his daughter was graduated from
college, when he was induced to return to Ada, Minnesota,
to become again the pastor of the church which had been his
first charge.
Having worked in only two former parishes, about
ten years in each, he came to Princeton where, instead of
seeking merely to increase the church membership, he
is trying to deepen religious life by preaching a way of
Christian living that freely and honestly takes into ac-
count present day knowledge and that is yet truly religious
in its motive and outlook. He believes that civilization is
approaching a reformation more sweeping than that which
ended the middle ages in the time of Luther, and that
out of it will come a church based squarely on Jesus' way
of living.
128
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
DEACONS
At the organization of the church in Northampton,
Massachusetts, three deacons were chosen: E. S. Phelps,
Dr. N. Chamberlin and A. Whitmarsh.
Anthony, Wm. C.
-
-
1850-1866
1869-1887
Emeritus, 1887
Allen, Chas. S.
-
-
1856-1858
Boltwood, H. L.
-
-
1871-1878
Booth, Wm. H.
-
-
1918-1928
Emeritus, 1929
Bryant, Wm. C.
-
-
1907-1918
Chamberlin, C. N.
-
-
1831-1833
1838-1848
Charlton, Joseph
-
-
1864-1866
Colton, C. D.
-
-
1860-1862
1868
Cook, Caleb
1842-1843
1845-1848
1871
Coppins, S. R.
(Died in
office)
1918-1930
Craig, J. 0.
(Died in
office)
1903-1904
Dunbar, F. F.
-
-
1879-1903
Emeritus, 1907
Etheridge, Albert
-
-
1867-1868
Ferris, E. S.
-
-
1907-1910
Field, J. C.
-
-
1921
Greener, M. J.
-
-
1916-1917
Hall, C. P.
-
-
1873-1878
129
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Harrison, R. D.
-
1911-1930
Emeritus, 1931
Leeper, H. B.
-
1878-1902
Emeritus, 1903
Phelps, E. S.
1831-1833
1846-1847
1859
Phelps, Geo. R.
-
1887-1893
Phillips, Isaac
-
1903-1906
Porter, Ora
-
1903-1907
Reeve, Lazarus
-
1840-1887
Emeritus, 1888
Richardson, J. P.
(5 months) 1869
Robinson, George
-
1884-1887
Rugg, Geo.
-
1905-1906
Smith, Alby
(Died in office)
1838-1840
Smith, Eli, Sr.
-
1867-1870
Smith, Eli, Jr.
Smith, G. T.
iqoq
...
XVLdxf
1888-1906
Emeritus, 1907
Smith, Geo.
_
1907-1916
Smith, Jas. H.
(Died in office)
1878-1879
Shepherd, Wm.
-
1897-1902
Steele, John
-
1908-1911
Stewart, F. W.
_
1918-
Swengle, Alfred
-
1894-1896
Whitmarsh, Alvah
.
1831-1833
Winship, Horace
-
1834-1835
Woods, Elisha
-
1834
130
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
DEACONESSES
First elected in January, 1882.
1882-1910
Mrs. Lydia A. Anthony Mrs. Julia R. Phelps
1911
Mrs. Lydia A. Anthony Mrs. F. W. Stewart
1912-1914
Mrs. F. W. Stewart Mrs. J. C. Field
1915-1916
Mrs. F. W. Stewart Miss Pauline Schenk
1917
Mrs. F. W. Stewart Mrs. Reeve Norton
1918-1922
Mrs. F. W. Stewart Mrs. J. C. Field
1923
Mrs. F. W. Stewart Mrs. L. M. Perkins
Mrs. Chas. Gibbs Mrs. E. H. Harris
1924-1925
Mrs. F. W. Stewart Mrs. J. C. Field
Mrs. Chas. Gibbs Mrs. E. H. Harris
Mrs. Charles Davis
1926-1929
Mrs. Alfred Norris Mrs. Eli Smith
Mrs. E. H. Harris Mrs. Charles Gibbs
Mrs. Charles Davis
1930
Mrs. F. W. Stewart Mrs. Eli Smith
Mrs. E. H. Harris Mrs. Charles Gibbs
Mrs. Charles Davis
131
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
TRUSTEES
Allen, C. P.
1865-1870
Allen, C. S.
1842-1844
1851-1853
Anthony, W. C.
1843-1845
1873-1877
Bascom, C. P. - (Died in office)
1888-1896
Barrows, L. C.
1867
Bates, E. C.
1878
Brigham, Sylvester, Sr. --.-.-
1836
Brigham, Sylvester, Jr. -
1914-1922
Brown, Geo. -
1845-1846
Bryant, John -
1881-1883
Bryant, W. C.
1898-1906
Burr, Jas. E. -
1850
Burr, Solomon -
1839-1841
1851-1852
Campbell, Guy -
1924-
Campbell, Joseph -
1844-1846
Carey, Rufus -
1847
1862-1864
Carlson, Albert -
1923-
Carse, Christopher -
1839-1841
Carter, Geo. -
1884-1885
Chamberlin, N., Jr.
1836
Charlton, John -
1863-1867
Chapman, Arvis -
1852-1854
Clapp, Seth -
1841-1843
1866
Colton, CD.
1836-1837
1867-1872
Colton, Egbert -
1844-1866
Colton, Lewis
1847-1849
1851-1859
132
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Cook, Caleb - 1836-1837
1850-1852
1858-1863
1867-1872
Converse, Wm. - - . 1850-1853
1864-1866
1873-1874
Cowan, Wm. - 1845-1848
1849
Crittenden, John - - 1842-1844
1861-1863
Curtis, Henry 1865-1866
Decker, Chas. - - (Died in office) 1902-1904
Denham, Butler - 1840
Doolittle, Joel 1834
1847-1849
Downing, Herman - - - 1858-1861
1873-1876
Dunbar, C. J. - - - - 1889-1906
Dunbar, S. M. - - - - 1855-1857
Dunbar, F. F. - - - - 1874-1879
Duncan, F. C. - - - - 1913-1914
Everett, J. S. - - - - 1853-1855
Field, J. C. 1911-1914
1916
Ford, G. R. - (Died in office) 1880-1887
Fox, Miles ----- 1923-1926
Gay, John M. 1837-1839
Gibbs, Chas. - 1917
Gibbs, Harry - 1907-1915
Gray, Hermas - 1891-1911
Hanson, Harry - 1917-1922
Harrington, Geo. B. 1892-1893
Harrison, R. D. - - - - 1884-1910
Haviland, Andrew - - - 1854-1855
Hinsdale, S. D. - - - - 1856
133
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Hodgman, Romanus - - - 1868-1873
Johnson, David - 1927
Kilbourn, Allen ... - 1858-1861
Kinsman, Denison - - - 1860-1862
Lovejoy, Owen - 1856
Merriman, J. L. - - - - 1855-1857
Morris, C. J. - - - - 1903-1911
Morris, H. M. - - - - 1860-1888
Olds, Justin - 1852-1854
Paddock, S. G. - - - - 1879-1880
Pettee, George - 1912-1918
Perkins, L. M. - - - - 1912-1926
Phelps, Chas. - - - 1838-1840
1862-1864
Phelps, E. H. - - - - 1842
1867
Phelps, E. H. - - - - 1842-1867
Phelps, E. Strong - - - 1877-1879
Prince, J. W. - - - - 1886-1889
Reeve, Lazarus - 1834
1837-1839
Richardson, J. P. - - - 1875-1878
Robinson, George - 1878-1887
Scott, Egbert - 1893-1901
Shugart, J. J. - - - - 1907-1912
Shugart, Wm. - 1921-1923
Smith, Alby - 1836-1838
Smith, Andrew - 1846-1848
Smith, Eli 1838-1840
1849-1851
1859
1863-1865
Smith, Elijah - 1836
Smith, G. T. - - - - 1868-1877
Smith, Jas. H. - 1848-1849
Smith, Sidney - - - 1848-1850
134
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Stacy, William - 1869-1872
Stem, Ed. 1888-1891
Stewart, F. W. - - - - 1897-1913
Swengle, Alfred - 1885-1890
Taylor, J. P. - - - - 1916
Waldo, M. B. - - - - 1846-1848
1854-1856
Walter, John - 1840-1842
1846-1847
1857
1864-1866
1873-1884
Whipple, William - 1878-1883
Williams, Geo. - - - 1919-1920
Wilson, T. L. - - - - 1927
Winship, E. C. - - - - 1864-1867
Winship, Horace - 1849-1857
Wood, Elisha - 1834
135
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
TREASURERS
"COLLECTORS"
Eli Smith
1835
E. H. Phelps
1838
"January 22, 1840. Voted that the trustees elect a
treasurer from their number."
"December 13, 1843. Voted to elect the treasurer at
the annual meeting of the church."
TREASURERS
E. S. Phelps -
1845-1846
None recorded -
- 1847-1853
Justin Olds -
1854-1862
W. C. Anthony
1863-1865
Sidney Smith
1866
W. C. Anthony
1867-1868
Wm. Converse -
1869-1870
Rufus Carey -
1871
L. J. Colton -
1872
Wm. C. Stacey
1873-1875
F. F. Dunbar
1876
F. W. Waller -
- 1877-1885
G. T. Smith -
1886-1889
Douglas Moseley -
1890-1911
A. H. Ferris -
1912-1927
Chas. Davis • -
1928-1930
Forrest Peterson, assistant
1928-1929
Edna B. Anderson, assistant
1930
Edna B. Anderson
1931-
136
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
HISTORICAL SECRETARIES
At first this was an office of the Sunday-school alone.
L. J. Colton compiled a history of the Sunday-school from
1833 to 1874 which is with other records in F. W. Stewart's
vault. About 1899 the report began to be called for by the
church. Later it became a part of the regular program of
the Annual Meeting and the historical secretary was elect-
ed by the church. The following have served in the capa-
city of historian :
L. J. Colton
-
1875-1876
John P. Richardsosn
March-December, 1876
E. S. Phelps
-
1877-1879
John P. Richardson
March-December, 1876
Julia R. Phelps
-
1887-1908
Ella W. Harrison
_
1909-1922
Camilla B. Ferris
-
1923
CLERKS
Amos C. Morse
- (Died in office) 1831
N. Chamberlin
-
1831-1833
Asher Doolittle
.
1834-1836
N. J. Chamberlin
_
1837-1839
C. D. Colton
-
1840-1843
Alvah Whitmarsh
-
1844-1849
C. D. Colton
-
1850-1859
L. J. Colton
-
1860
E. H. Phelps
.
1861-1863
Rufus Carey
(Died in office)
1864-1873
C. D. Colton
_
1874-1880
Romanus Hodgman
_
1881-1888
H. N. Morris
- - -
1889-1892
C. P. Allen
(Died in office)
1883-1897
Ella W. Harrison
_
1898-1901
Reeve Norton
-
1902
Emma C. Harrington
1903
Reeve Norton
-
1904-1910
Sylvester Brigham
-
1911-
137
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
CHURCH OFFICERS, 1931
PASTOR
Rev. H. Wm. Stiles
DEACONS
F. W. Stewart Eli Smith
J. C. Field Frank Hoffman
R. D. Harrison, Deacon Emeritus
DEACONESSES
Mrs. F. W. Stewart Mrs. Eli Smith
Mrs. J. C. Field Mrs. C. H. Gibbs
Mrs. Clara Allen Harris
TRUSTEES
T. L. Wilson William Shugart
Albert Carlson Charles H. Gibbs
M. S. Campbell J. C. Field
TREASURER
Miss Edna B. Anderson
Miss May Booth, Assistant
HISTORICAL SECRETARY
Miss Camilla B. Ferris
CLERK
Sylvester T. Brigham
USHERS
E. C. Prior
Myron Hoover, Bruce Grant, Richard Campbell,
Max Pannebaker, Ned Sapp, Roger Piper, T. A.
Fenoglio, Forrest Peterson, Paul Stiles, Albert
Carlson, Albert Carlson, Jr., Chester Williams,
M. G. Campbell.
[Editors' Note — This report and the two following were available
too late for proper placement.]
138
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL OFFICERS, 1931
BOARD OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Rev. H. Wm. Stiles
Miss Camilla B. Ferris Miss Carrie Dunbar
Miss Martha Stiles Mr. T. A. Fenoglio
Mr. S. T. Brigham, Clerk
OFFICERS
Miss Carrie Dunbar, - Supervising Superintendent
Rev. H. Wm. Stiles, Superintendent of Worship Period
Mrs. F. W. Stewart, - Superintendent of Missions
Mrs. C. J. Morris, - Superintendent of Home Dept.
Mrs. Wm. Shugart, - Superintendent of Temperance
Mrs. Eva M. Greener, - Supplies Secretary
Mr. T. A. Fenoglio, - Executive Secretary-Treasurer
DEPARTMENTAL WORKERS
ADULTS
Mrs. Clara Allen Harris, Supt.
Mrs. Ella W. Harrison Miss Etta Shepherd
Mr. T. L. Wilson Miss Evelyn E. Graham
SENIOR
Miss Camilla B. Ferris, Supt.
Rev. H. Wm. Stiles Mr. David Johnson
INTERMEDIATE
Miss Gerda Bouxsein, Supt.
Miss Mary L. Uthoff Miss Minnie Warnecke
JUNIOR
Miss Martha Stiles, Supt.
Miss Alice Hock Mrs. Katherine B. Mclntyre
Mr. Chester C. Williams
PRIMARY
Mrs. C. R. F. Billeaux, Supt.
Mrs. Franz Simon Mrs. B. M. Gibbs
Miss Lillian Ruttan
139
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
BEGINNERS
Mrs. Joe Cowley, Supt.
Miss Hazel Staples Miss Helen Louise Hewitt
CRADLE ROLL
Mrs. W. J. Sidle, Supt,
Mrs. Joseph Pratt Miss Marjorie Sidle
OFFICERS OF THE AUXILIARY SOCIETIES
1931
THE LADIES' AID
Elsie H. Nichols, - - - President
Etta Shepherd, - Vice-President
Elizabeth M. Cowley, - Secretary-Treasurer
THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY
Clara Allen Harris, - President
Mattie Makutchan, - - Vice-President
Ina Lowe, - Secretary
Pauline Schenk, - Treasurer, Foreign Missions
Fannie V. Wilson, - Treasurer, Home Missions
THE ELIZABETH CURTIS GUILD
Mary Stanard, ... President
Ada H. Evans, - - First Vice-President
Dorothy Anderson, - Second Vice-President
Martha Stiles, - Third Vice-President
Ina Lowe, - Secretary
Altha K. Griswold, - - - Treasurer
THE DELTA ALPHA SOCIETY
Edith Cowley, - President
Elsie Sidle, - Vice-President
May P. Booth, - - Secretary-Treasurer
140
The Members of the Church
1831-1931
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
charter Memb'
The Charter Members
—OF THE—
Hampshire Colony Congregational
Church
ORGANIZED IN NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS
MARCH 23, 1831
EBENEZER STRONG PHELPS AND ANNE, HIS WIFE
AMOS C. MORSE AND LUCINDA, HIS WIFE
ELISHA WOOD AND ABIGAIL, HIS WIFE
SAMUEL BROWN
DANIEL BROWN
DR. NATHAN CHAMBERLIN
LEVI JONES AND LOUISA, HIS WIFE
JOHN LEONARD
ALVAH WHITMARSH AND NAOMI, HIS WIFE
MARIA LYMAN
ELIJAH SMITH
CLARISSA CHILDS
SYLVIA CHILDS
DEACONS— E. S. PHELPS
DR. N. CHAMBERLIN
ALVAH WHITMARSH
CLERK— AMOS C. MORSE
142
ELI SMITH, JR.
The only living child of any charter member.
On March 23, 1928, forty members of the First Congregational
Church of Princeton, Illinois, took part in an historical pageant
commemorating the founding of the Hampshire Colony Church in
Northampton, Massachusetts, March 23, 1831. This pageant was writ-
ten by Ella W. Harrison, a former historical secretary of the church,
and presented under the direction of Mary C. Ferris
Following the pageant a bronze tablet was unveiled upon which
are engraved the names of the eighteen charter members of the
Hampshire Colony Church. The tablet, the gift of the Ladies' Aid
and of the grandchildren of Eli Smith, is placed in the west wall of
the church vestibule.
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
1831
Ebenezer S. Phelps
Mrs. Ann Phelps
Amos C. Morse
Mrs. Lucinda Morse
Elisha Wood
Mrs. Abigail Wood
Samuel Brown
Daniel Brown
Levi Jones
Mrs. Louisa Jones
Alvah Whitmarsh
Mrs. Naomi Whitmarsh
Elijah Smith
Clarissa Childs
Sylvia Childs
Nathaniel Chamberlain
John Leonard
Maria Lyman
1834
Joel Doolittle
Mrs. Deborah Doolittle
Mrs. Sarah Winship
Horace Winship
Eunice Childs
Elisha Wood
Mrs. Abigail Wood
Solomon Burr
Obediah Carlton
Mrs. Polly Carlton
Asher Doolittle
Mrs. Sally Doolittle
Laura Doolittle
Harriet Doolittle
Selbie Doolittle
Mrs. Susan Farnham
Lazarus Reeve
Mrs. Nancy Reeve
Nathaniel Chamberlain
Mrs. Eliza Chamberlain
1835
Washington Webb
Chauncey D. Colton
Marian Burr
James B. Carlton
Louisa C. Bryant
Mrs. Adeline P. Bryant
Mrs. Henrietta R. Bryant
Alby Smith
Mrs. Sally Smith
Emily Smith
Edwin G. Smith
E. Hinsdale Phelps
T. Amanda Pratt
Egbert E. Colton
Heman Downing
Robert A. Leeper
John M. Gay
Mrs. Sarah Gay
Eli Smith
John Leeper
Mrs. Fidellis Leeper
Lewis Colton
Mrs. Harriet Newell
Mrs. Mary Jones
1836
Jonathan Colton
Mrs. Betsy Colton
Mrs. Jane Drake
Mrs. Elizabeth Drake
143
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
W. R. Dewey
Mariah Smith
Christopher G. Corss
Mrs. Polly Corss
C. F. Winship
Sylvester Brigham
Edmond F. Doolittle
John N. Carlton
James C. Doolittle
Mrs. Mary Jane Wood
Aurelia Langworthy
Melissa J. Doolittle
Emily A. Wiswall
Mrs. Electa Smith
Lydia Ann Beals
Sally Smith
Lucy N. Chamberlain
Caleb Cook
Cornelius C. Corse
Joseph Brigham
Lyman Stowell
Eliza Brigham
Alanscon Dickenson
Eli Wood
Samuel L. Fay
David Robinson
Mrs. Philanda Robinson
Mrs. Eunice Doolittle
William Cowen
Mrs. Emaline Cowen
Mrs. Clarymon C. Flint
Mrs. Louisa Reeve
Charles Phelps
Mrs. Mary Strong Phelps
A. M. Dickson
Mrs. Amanda Stowell
1837
Ormal A. Smith
Mary Corss
Amanda Miner
Caleb Pierce
Mehitable Corss
Mrs. Pluma Chamberlain
Mrs. Nancy Smith
Mrs. Amy Wilson
Mrs. Eliza Walter
Jane Smith
Andrew Smith
James Smith
Mrs. Wealthy L. Pool
Butler Denham
Mrs. Eunice Denham
Noadiah Smith
Mrs. Rebecca Smith
Ann L. Smith
Phoebe P. Smith
Seth Clapp
Asseneth Hitchcock
John Walter
Mrs. Lucy Cook
Franklin W. Winship
Mary E. Winship
Julia E. Winship
1838
Mrs. Mary G. Phelps
Eben S. Phelps
Mrs. Anna Phelps
Eben S. Phelps, Jr.
James R. Phelps
Mary Ann Phelps
Benjamin Mather
144
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
David Wells
Benjamin Porter
Caroline Smith
Lucetta Winship
Irene Dorr
1839
Melinda Smith
Mrs. Anna Smith
Charles S. Allen
Mrs. Emily D. Allen
Nancy L. Smith
Hester A. Coulter
Ralph Winship
1840
Mrs. Elizabeth Love joy
Sybil Love joy
Mrs. Sarah Dewey Gould
Mrs. Sarah Leonard Gould
Elizabeth Pierce Gould
Edmond Seely
Mrs. Hannah Phelps
1841
Mrs. Elizabeth Wiswall
John W. Donaldson
Joseph Campbell
Joseph R. Fairfield
Mcaijah Triplett
John Porterfield
Julia Hitchcock
Calphena Cooley
Sarah Mcintosh
Milicent Burt
Clarissa Reeve
Elizabeth Mann
Martha Jane Winship
Mary Flint
Diana S. Smith
Nath. Chamberlain III
John F. Whitsell
Chester A. Smith
Mrs. Eliz. Chamberlain
Rebecca Wilson
Luther Denham
Mrs. Elizabeth Denham
George R. Phelps
Harriet N. Phelps
William ML Barton
George Reeve
Mrs. Margaret Miller
John W. Donaldson
James H. Smith
Elizabeth Robinson
William C. Anthony
Mrs. Jerusha Anthony
Jonathan S. Colton
Mrs. Betsy Colton
Elisha Wood
Mrs. Mary Wood
Cecelia Wood
John Crittenden
Mrs. Betsy G. Crittenden
Nathaniel F. Smith
Mrs. Rachel Smith
Hubert Smith
Harriet E. Smith
Mrs. Susanna Campbell
Louisa Smith
George Brown
Mrs. Susan Brown
Joel Doolittle
145
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Mrs. Deborah Doolittle
Rufus Carey
Mrs. Mary K. Carey
1842
Asher Doolittle
Mrs. Eunice Doolittle
Sidney Smith
Mrs. Laura Smith
Delia Lambertson
Eli Wood
Amelia Smith
Martin B. Waldo
Mrs. Lucy Waldo
Mrs. Fidelia L. Colton
1843
Mrs. Lydia 0. Thorp
Lucelia Thorp
Delia A. Alden
Susan Neal
James Perry
Jeremiah Morrell
James H. Warren
1844
David Akin Haviland
Jeremiah Hopkins Merritt
Madison B. Lockwood
Catherine S. Allen
Maria Mann
Mrs. Margarette Love joy
Mrs. Flora Buchen
Francis Buchen
John E. Love joy
Laura Sheldon
Melissa Doolittle
Elias Gilbert
Susanna Gilbert
Sarah Gilbert
James Porterfield
Mrs. Eliza Porterfield
Edward C. Winship
Mrs. Ann Winship
Samuel Dunbar
Mary A. Whitmarsh
Lewis C. Whitmarsh
Samuel P. Whitmarsh
Robert A. Leeper
William Leeper
1845
Eliza Jane Dunbar
1846
William Converse
Mrs. Elizabeth Converse
Mrs. Emily K. Colton
Elvira Wood
Eleanor Wilson
Justus Burr
1847
Julianna McDonnell
Mrs. Charlotte Carpenter
Charlotte Carpenter
Mrs. Hannah Dunbar
Mrs. Jemina Hinsdale
1848
Mrs. Patty Smith
Mrs. Catherine Ballou
Mrs. Mary Eliza Winship
Samuel Graham
Emily McNitt
146
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Frances E. Denham
Eliza Jane McConihe
Harriet A. Smith
Mary Ann Smith
Lyman Wood
Eben S. Phelps III
Cornelius Denham
Calvin E. Winship
1849
James E. Burr
Julia S. Miller
Harriet Carpenter
Rebecca Jones
Susan Jones
1850
Josiah Webster
Mrs. Mary Webster
Mrs. Louisa C. Olds
Mrs. Harriet C. Everette
Mrs. Sarah S. Harrison
Mrs. Caroline F. Newell
Mrs. Mariah Merritt
Elizabeth Mann
1851
Deloro Antoynette Potter
Mrs. Isabelle Wilson
Harriet Wiswall
Marcia Allen
James Ratrie
Justin H. Olds
Robert Tonkinson
Isaac H. Carpenter
Mrs. Lucinda W. Bubach
Mrs. Mary J. Murry
Isabella B. Gilman
Elizabeth J. Walter
George W. Haviland
Samuel D. Hinsdale
Mrs. Lucina Chapman
Robert Woodburn
Mrs. Woodburn
Clarissa Smith
Edna M. Smith
James S. Everette
Lucien F. Smith
Justus Stevens
Mrs. Lurena Stevens
Lucien H. McConihe
Martin Tappan
Eliza Kibby
Mrs. McConihe
Thomas Hope
Mrs. Lucinda Burr
Lucius C. Gilbert
Mrs. Rebecca Gilbert
Mrs. Angeline Hope
Mrs. Susan Gilbert
Sarah Gilbert
David E. West
Mrs. Minerva West
Elizabeth Phelps
Elizabeth Colton
Lucretia M. Colton
Eveline L. Colton
Arvis S. Chapman
Andrew J. Haviland
James T. Stevens
Mrs. Elizabeth A. Stevens
David B. Hale
Mrs. Jane F. Hale
147
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Lucy Smith
Susan M. Smith
Charles Stevens
Mrs. Ann Stevens
Judson M. Waldo
James M. Winship
Mrs. Mary A. Winship
Joel J. Doolittle
Mrs. Mary E. Doolittle
1852
Samuel H. Ward
Mrs. Caroline A. Ward
Timothy H. Ward
Lucinda Ward
Mary Ward
Jeannette Lease
Elias Gilbert
1853
Mrs. Margaret Blood
Mrs. Amelia Steel
Owen Love joy
Marcica M. Smith
1854
James L. Merriam
Mrs. Angeline Merriam
Mrs. Jane Cobb
Mrs. Caroline Childs
Mrs. Rosanna Allen
Mrs. Alby P. C. Converse
Mrs. Martha B. Wheeler
Rebecca J. Ferry
Ozias E. Chapman
Mrs. Sarah Chapman
Freeman F. Bacon
1855
Henry Charlton
John Strong
Mrs. Phoebe Ann Strong
1856
Mrs. Mary Denham
Heman Downing
Mrs. Rachel Downing
Mrs. Cynthia E. Smith
Isaac B. Smith
Mrs. Emily C. White
Helen V. White
Isabelle M. White
Victoria M. White
Mrs. Sarah Winship
Julia E. Winship
Edward Keyes
1857
Newell Bacon
Henry McElfish
Elizabeth Stevens
Joseph Charlton, Sr.
Mrs. Hannah Charlton
Joseph Charlton, Jr.
Mrs. Catherine Charlton
Charles H. Colton
Mrs. Fanny R. Smith
Eliza Ward
Elizabeth Cragier
Jane Cook
Mrs. Martha M. Delano
John Charlton
Mrs. Martha Charlton
Samuel D. Cochran
Mrs. Ermina D. Cochran
148
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Catherine M. Phelps
Nancy Walter
Lucy Smith
Emily N. Smith
Elizabeth Smith
Caroline Slomp
Sarah Converse
Hannah Leeper
Mary A. Cook
Julia M. Ferry
Arury D. Wilcox
Louisa Anthony
Hannah M. Saul
Allen Kilborn
Mrs. Lucinda J. Kilborn
Mrs. Mary Rawson
1858
Dennison Kinsman
Mrs. Mary Kinsman
Mrs. A. E. Prouty
Mrs. Mary Dunbar
Mrs. Flavia A. Austin
Edward M. Fisher
Mrs. Jane Fisher
Lydia A. Allen
Charles Faxon
William A. Fisher
Mrs. Eliz. Worthington
Emeretta N. Faxon
Mrs. Laura L. Anthony
Agusta L. Tupper
Calvin E. Winship
1859
Gustavus Gunn
Mrs. Mary Keyes
Harriet L. Keyes
Helen C. Keyes
Sarah Olds
Mrs. Sarah Charlton
Sophia Schlumpf
Elizabeth M. Johnson
1860
John P. Richardson
Mrs. Sarah Wood
Camilla B. Dunbar
Mary L. Dunbar
Rosanna M. Kinsman
Rebecca Smith
Carrie B. Tucker
Mrs. A. S. Hills
1861
Harvey Allen
Mrs. Luceba Allen
L. S. Smith
Mrs. Eliza Smith
1862
Julia L. Olds
Esther C. Archer
Louisa Everette
Edward D. Bangs
Mrs. Amelia Bangs
Joseph Charlton, Jr.
Mrs. Catherine Charlton
Mrs. Mary Ann Burr
D. H. Blake
Mrs. Charlotte Blake
Mary Ellen Phelps
Lucinda C. Colton
149
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
1863
Joel J. Doolittle
Mrs. Mary E. Doolittle
Sarah J. Smith
Mrs. Flora B. Carpenter
Mrs. Angeline Dee
Mrs. Lora Ann Clark
Mrs. Ellen C. Vansant
Mrs. MJary B. Whitzell
Silas F. Osborn
Mrs. Jennie S. Osborn
William M. Winship
Annie E. Charlton
Ellen Linderblood
Elizabeth J. Blanchard
Amelia Carey
Francis Carey
Sylvia Smith
Lillias A. Winship
Mary Hare
Caroline L. Winship
Louise White
Marilla A. Dunbar
Nellie M. Jamison
Henry Curtis
Phoebe Curtis
Mrs. Orpha Stacy
George Hawley
Mrs. Laura M. Hawley
Wm. C. Stacy
Mrs. Persis Stacy
1864
Flavel Bascom
Mrs. Ruth P. Bascom
Ann A. Pruden
Romanus Hodgman
Mrs. Helen W. Hodgman
Villeroy E. Smith
Mrs. Lydia M; Smith
Charles P. Allen
Gilman T. Smith
Mrs. Georgiana V. Smith
Laura N. Smith
Charles F. Winship
Mrs. Sarah E. Winship
Susan L. Britt
John F. Bascom
George S. Bascom
Cordelia White
Alice H. Colton
Harriet Pendleton
Flora J. Colton
Emily E. Parsons
1865
Rhoda C. Knapp
Susan Williams
Henry M. Bascom
Sidney Smith, Jr.
Cornelia Phelps
Lucia M. Colton
Alcinda Burris
Sarah Paddock
Lavinia E. Colton
George W. Strong
Mrs. Elizabeth A. DeGroff
Helen E. Stoutenburgh
Mary E. Stoutenburgh
L. C. Barrows
Mrs. C. M. Barrows
Lewis C. Whitmarsh
150
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Mrs. Eunice Downer
Mrs. Margaret Jeanes
Phoebe J. Curtis
Lucy A. Phelps
Sarah E. Stoutenburgh
Alby S. Colton
Buel P. Colton
Charles A. Smith
John Gardner
Mrs. Elizabeth A. Gardner
Mrs. Orilla S. Cook
Lucy Cook
Anna M. Converse
Mrs. Mary Kinsman
1866
Albert Ethridge
Mrs. Albert Ethridge
Maggie Hall
Austin Wiswall
Joseph R. Anthony
Edwin D. Converse
John H. Morse
Thomas N. Cunningham
Richard D. Harrison
Susan M. Smith
Mrs. Eliza Ann Sower
Harriet Sower
Mrs. Ellen Sower
Mrs. Mary A. Burr
1867
Mrs. Malvina Manrose
Lucy S. Denham
Sarah M. Love joy
Mrs. Pluma A. Ellis
David W. Washburn
Mrs. Persis P. Washburn
Henry L. Boltwood
Mrs. Helen E. Boltwood
1868
E. J. Schenk
Mrs. Frederika W. Schenk
Mrs. Sarah Jane Christy
Martin Carse
Mrs. Rebecca Carse
Oscar Stoutenburg
Mrs. Mary Stoutenburg
Charles P. Bascom
Sarah W. Wiswall
S. W. Maltbie
Mrs. K. B. Maltbie
1869
Alice Newport
1870
J. W. Boomhour
Mrs. Mary Bates
Charles P. Hall
Mrs. Lucia C. Hall
Dr. Daniel Jones
Mrs. Mary Jones
Mrs. Mary Ann Newport
Mrs. Mary G. Simmons
Mary C. Bannister
1871
Milton Carter
Mrs. Jane E. Carter
J. A. Foster
Mrs. J. A. Foster
Mary B. Outman
Lois A. Phelps
151
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Ralph McClintock
Mrs. Ralph McClintock
Richard R. Pierce
Mrs. Melissa F. Chapman
Mrs. Mary S. Carter
Charles J. Dunbar
Everett Bryant
Mary E. Don wing
1872
Alvin S. Clapp
Alfred S. Sayles
Lottie Ayers
Emma Norman
Mrs. Elizabeth Hubble
Mrs. Catherine McElroy
Catherine E. McElroy
Mrs. Bella Bell
Mrs. Clara Morgan
Mrs. Dr. Livingstone
Mrs. Marietta Ford
R. B. Howard
L. C. Ward
Mrs. Eliza Gilmore
Mrs. Jerusha A. Scott
Mrs. Sarah Betts
1873
Hannah Metcalf
Mrs. Kate A. Dunbar
Frank F. Dunbar
Mrs. Phoebe Stoutenburg
Lizzie Steuchel
Mrs. Frances M. Torrence
Elizabeth Ballou
Mrs. Mary Johnson
Mary Norton
Henry Mathews
M. Eliza Jones
Stella E. Clapp
Evangeline W. Mears
Isora L. Winship
Anna J. Beach
Emma J. Phelps
Ada Colton
Clara E. Allen
Mrs. Anna Mears
Mrs. Rebecca D. Simons
David P. Howard
James McClintock
Mark C. Smith
Joseph Steward
Arvis Scott Chapman
J. Frank Nickerson
Mrs. Clara L. Crossley
Morell M. Stacy
Charles W. Carpenter
Flora Downing
Lucicen E. Page
Mrs. Lucetta C. Page
Mrs. E .E. Pierce
George R. Phelps
Mrs. Julia R. Phelps
Mrs. Augusta M. Manning
Mrs. R. B. Howard
1874
George A. Carter
Mrs. Jane E. Clark
Robert Greenhalgh
Mrs. Maria L. Greenhalgh
Henry Gibson
152
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
1875
Richard D. Harrison
Mrs. Ella W. Harrison
Mrs. Eliza J. Cummings
Frank W. Smith
H. N. Morris
Mrs. Susan Morris
Sarah C. Huntley
1876
H. B. Leeper
Mrs. Mary A. Leeper
Samuel Bally
Gertrude A. Henderson
Mtalvina V. Hodgman
Carrie E. Hodgman
Ada Morris
F. W. Waller
Miss E. P. Robinson
Mrs. F. A. Tabor
Sarah S. Phelps
E. Strong Phelps
Mrs. Sarah A. Phelps
Jennie Steckel
Maria Okey
Mrs. Hattie J. Smith
1877
R. E. Cutler
Richard Edwards
Mrs. R. Edwards
R. A. Edwards
Ellen S. Edwards
Mary C. Edwards
N. T. Edwards
Mrs. H. M. Neeley
Ella Outman
Mrs. S. M. Hinsdale
George A. Robinson
Mrs. C. B. Robinson
A. C. Worthington
E. S. Worthington
Jennie A. Worthington
Frank M. Richardson
E. P. Dean
E. H. Torrence
B. N. Loverin
George H. Edwards
C. B. Chapman
W. A. Edwards
Harry P. Phelps
L. A. Laughlin
G. R. Ford
L. E. Hunt
Addison Lowry
Lucy H. Smith
Kate Heintz
Spencer Bally
Alice Phelps
Edwin G. Gilmore
Orpha V. Ellis
Odessa C. Ellis
Addie R. Bryant
Reeve Norton
Will Sharp
Willis Morris
Jessie F. Fisher
Louie Chapman
William Walter Curtis
David S. Phelps
Lizzie Okey
Mrs. Alice Van Velzer
Clyde Smith
153
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Alby Smith
Charles Leeper
J. F. Kinsey
Seymour Allen Bacon
1878
Charles S. Hubbell
Allen A. Stone
Mrs. Martha Stone
Arthur Stone
Minnie M. Stone
John B. Dann
George B. Harrington
Mrs. Emma V. Harrington
John Porter, Jr.
Mrs. Margaret Dann
1879
Fred Mcintosh
Florence Farnsworth
Charles C. Warren
Mrs. Cynthia Kennon
Mrs. Lydia Bacon
Mrs. Emeline Brown
Lida Cottle
1880
Franklin W. Winship
Mary E. Winship
L. Marion Winship
Mrs. Eliza J. Bally
Xabie C. Bally
Mrs. Harriet H. Chisholm
Ines F. Chisholm
Dessie Cooper
Mary E. Colesberry
Mrs. Eliza Dillon
Mrs. Mary V. Dillon
Emma Endner
Eva Houck
Mrs. Anna Masters
Mrs. Catherine Ott
Minnie Agnes Phelps
Jessie A. Phelps
Jennie Shering
Mary A. Smith
Mamie Stoner
Fannie Wells
Ida Wells
Joseph Dillon
Henry Interman
William Lawson
Harlan C. Masters
Frank B. Newell
Skiles Ott
Fred T. Richardson
Henry H. Seymour
Nat Simons
Elmer D. Stacy
Herbert W. Stacy
Harry H. Walker
John H. Wiggins
Percy R. Wood
Henry N. Keener
Mrs. Emily Keener
John Campbell
William M. Landreth
Mrs. T. J. Stevens
Mary M. Brown
154
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
1881
Mrs. Hannah M. Phelps
Albert Holbrook
John W. Eastes
Mrs. Laura E. Cauffman
Blanch E. Fisher
Mrs. Lucretia Sweet
1882
Mrs. Adelaide W. Colton
Carrie B. Lathrop
Vincent May Bubach
Amanda Jane Shettel
J. W. Prince
Mrs. J. W. Prince
John Hungerford
Mrs. John Hungerford
Hattie G. Hungerford
Mrs. Louise Cutler
J. M. McNair
Mrs. Minerva McNair
Michael K. Shettel
Mrs. Leah Shettel
1883
H. Catlin Cook
Mrs. Emily J. Cook
Florence E. Cook
Addie R. Bryant
Mrs. Elmira W. North
Levi W. Woodard
Mrs. Sarah V. Pendleton
Jacob R. Earnest
Mrs. A. E. Earnest
1884
Margaret V. Smith
Margaret E. Reed
Florence M. Edwards
Owen M. Edwards
Ada M. Morris
Harriet E. Winship
Pauline S. F. Schenk
Clara L. Schenk
Catherine Houck
Myra Hayes
Camilla B. Ferris
Charlotte E. Stoutenburg
Harriet E. Newell
William A. Stoutenburg
Frank W. Schenk
Harry W. Swengel
Joseph H. Strock
Mrs. Elizabeth B. Strock
Alfred M. Swengel
George F. Arnold
Mrs. Laura B. Swengel
Lemuel Paine
Mrs. Harriet Paine
1885
Stephen A. Norton
Mrs. Therina L. Norton
Nettie May Lathrop
George Byron Smith
George B. Clark
Edward L. Brown
Mrs. Mary Ann Morton
Mattie B. Clark
Mrs. Elizabeth Harris
Mrs. Harriet Cottle
Charles C. Smith
Mrs. Jessie F. Smith
Edwin A. Vaughan
155
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Mrs. Julia C. Vaughan
Julia Smith
Alpha Ford Earnest
Robert Henry Keener
Louisa V. Reed
John D. Reynolds
Mrs. Mary J. Reynolds
Charles G. Allen
1886
Mrs. Eliza Seckler
Charlotte Seckler
Lucy J. Smith
Maria W. Bye
Elberteen Foster
Nettie Osborn
Mrs. Augusta M. Marsh
Mrs. Rebecca Walser
Mrs. Fanny Stuchell
Agnes M. Robinson
Jennie Belle Clark
Mrs. Lizzie M. Cowley
1887
Henry H. Forbes
Mrs. Laura J. Forbes
William Drake
Mrs. Adelia Drake
Bertha Mary Forbes
Grace Phelps
Louisa Stipp
Augusta Johnson
Catherine M. Chapman
Nellie Louisa Thomas
Edward Stem
Edward Z. Mercer
Charles J. Morris
William Porter Stone
Charles Crownover
Edwin Z. Smith
Douglas Moseley
Mrs. Louise Moseley
George L. Swengel
Mfery Ann Jane Morton
Caroline J. Evans
Flavel Bascom
Mrs. Ruth Bascom
Florence Bubach
1888
Mrs. Martha T. Palmer
John Smith Cook
Warren A. Lathrop
Dana Lynde Simons
Godfrey A. Holzinger
Sarah E. Kennon
1889
Newell Cook
Mrs. Louisa Cook
Ida A. Hamilton
Alice Hock
May Osborne
Nellie Trimble
Geneva Walser
James Laughlin
Mrs. Julia Lauglhin
Margaret A. Bodfish
Amanda C. Bodfish
Frances G. Maus
Mrs. Martha Butts
Marion Laughlin
156
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
1890
Anna C. Harwood
Carrie Segur
Clara Maude Walker
William E. Paschen
C. Fred Laughlin
Hermas Gray
Mrs. Lydia Gray
Mae B. Reed
Charles W. Field
1891
Mrs. Maria F. Johnson
Mrs. Emma C. Dorr
Mrs. L. K. Warren
Egbert D. Scott
Mrs. Lavinia Colton Scott
F. M. Bussard
Mrs. M. A. Bussard
Charles P. Allen
Mrs. Helen S. Newell
Frances A. Denham
Harry W. Swengel
Mrs. Serena Winser
Cynthia Headlee
A. W. Brett
Mrs. Minnie Votaw Brett
Mary A. Dalton
Charles E. Schenk
John Prouty
Samuel S. Evans
E. Warren Harrison
Robert H. Harrison
Dolly I. Dean
Minnie H. Newell
J. 0. Craig
Ella Craig
Mrs. Oscar G. Pearson
Maud Craig
Myrtle Cole
Mrs. M. E. Craig
1892
T. T. Wilson
Mrs. Britomarte Wilson
Mrs. Kate M. Ashley
William C. Bryant
Mrs. Mary B. Metcalf
E. H. Votaw
Mrs. Harriet W. Votaw
Martha E. Votaw
Enida M. Votaw
Lyravine H. Votaw
Ruth Votaw
Mrs. M. E. Thornton
Henrietta Thornton
Mrs. Helen Ambrose
Carro Ambrose
Lucien E. Page
Mrs. Lucetta Page
Lottie L. Page
Annette M. Page
Joseph Brigham
Reeve Norton
Mrs. Ada Colton Norton
Mrs. Mary A. Harris
1893
Mrs. Martha Crownover
H. D. Steele
Zepha Wilhite
Alba M. Messenkop
Mrs. Agnes Stoutenburg
157
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Mrs. Julia M. Rice
Blanch Huntington
Mrs. Carrie M. Huntington
Mary Huntington
Mrs. Gertrude Flowers
1894
Blanch Greenman
Francis S. Harrison
Mrs. Lydia Bryant
Mrs. May Simons
Mrs. Clara F. Smith
Elizabeth Crownover
Lora Gale Simons
Bessie Peterson
Anna Peterson
Beva Wright
Curtis Cauffman
Hattie Weller
Edward Carey
A. V. Webster
Ida Jester
Edwin More, Jr.
Mrs. Anna R. More
Mrs. Waitie Walker Gray
1895
Jessie Pierce Garwood
Minnie Naffziger
Eliza M. Chapler
A. G. Downer
Mrs. Mary Downer
Mary S. Halliday
Nora Ellen Downing
Edward C. Prior
F. W. Stewart
Mrs. Jennie T. Stewart
Mary C. Ferris
Mrs. Emma Mercer
Martha F. Makutchan
Gertrude B. Coddington
1896
Mrs. Meriam Watkins
Jennie 0. Giesie
Mrs. Ella Stimson
Eli J. Davis
J. R. J. Anthony
R. D. Harrison, Jr.
Mrs. Mary J. Smith
Jennie A. Smith
Ida Stimson
Josephine Sower
1897
William Shepherd
Mrs. Mary A. Shepherd
Etta M. Shepherd
Ella M. Baxter
Abbie M. Wright
Alice M. Landreth
Flora Kate Sower
Jennie Maude Smith
Alice Julia Robinson
Hattie Bryant
Estella Mabel Downing
Olive Logan Downing
Bertha May Scott
Clara Huntington
H. W. Barr
Mrs. M. A. Barr
Warren E. Durstine
George J. Ross
Mrs. G. J. Ross
158
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
1898
Ora H. Porter
Mrs. Laura White Pratt
Mrs. Bertha M. Evans
Benjamin E. Josephson
Mrs. Euchola V. Porter
1899
D. W. Wise
Mrs. D. W. Wise
Mrs. Ella C. Rood
H. J. Rood
D. 0. Barto
Mrs. Lucy M. Barto
Thomas Sisler
T. P. Streeter
Mrs. A. Lenander
Mrs. A. B. Scott
John H. Bryant
Gertrude Stoetzel
Mrs. Margaret B. Capron
Hazen S. Capron
Lillian Abbott
1900
Mary Seeburger
George Pettee
Mrs. George Pettee
Mrs. Mary DeGroff
Chas. Decker
Mrs. Janette H. Decker
William J. Decker
Cora Decker
M. Edna Decker
Alice Norton
Ruth K. Harrison
Eva Callinan
G. A. Rugg
Mrs. G. A. Rugg
W. W. Powell
Mrs. Helen F. Powers
Mrs. Olive S. McKane
1901
J. M. Steele
Mrs. J. M. Steele
Edith Steele
Kate Steele
Wm. B. Powers
Mabel Ruth DeGroff
Lucretia Steele
Florence May New
Grace Mary DeGroff
Mrs. Elsie G. Nichols
Florence M. Nichols
Mrs. Nancy Wheeler
Miss Grace Foster
Mrs. Frederika Naffzigger
E. H. Votaw
Mrs. Harriet W. Votaw
1902
Isaac Phillips
Mrs. Isaac Phillips
Cora May Phillips
Z. S. Hills
Mrs. Susan Hills
Mary A. Fisk
Ida Lou Weirick
Herbert M. McKee
Mrs. Margaret P. McKee
Mrs. Elizabeth E. Keith
Harry Hanson
Mrs. Grace B. Hanson
159
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Edward H. Harris
Mrs. H. W. Cass
Dee Howard Norton
Homer Willis Stewart
Mrs. Laura Barrett
1903
E. N. Page
Mrs. E. N. Page
J. W. Welsh
Mrs. Mary W. Welsh
Wm. H. Smith
Mrs. Wm. H. Smith
Eva Minnick
Celia Minnick
W. C. Pierson
Mrs. W. C. Pierson
Hart E. Walter
Mrs. Edith W. Walter
D. A. McMillan
Mrs. Eva McMillan
1904
Mrs. M. B. Muzzy
George P. Williams
Mrs. Bertha C. Williams
George L. Smith
Minnie Morrison
Wilson R. Warfield
Mrs. W. R. Warfield
Clara Cater
Rhoda Copeland
Mary Bennett
Mrs. Amanda B. Shugart
1905
George Simons
Fred Dunbar
A. C. Stimson
George Dunbar
Mrs. Mabel B. Dunbar
Laura Gibbs
Dorothy Simons
Elizabeth M. DeGroff
Jessie R. DeGroff
Agnes Stewart
Williard Steele
Albert Holmes Ferris
Laura Sue Ferris
1906
W. J. Martin
Mrs. W. J. Martin
Clara E. Cowley
Hazel M. Cowley
Edith E. Sharp
Ethel M. Sharp
Iva E. Hensel
Vilas V. Hensel
Orville Messick
Vera Gray
Jean Gray
Nathan Gray
George H. Gray
Louis L. Brown
Henry D. Gibbs
Mrs. Jennie L. Bryant
Louise Bryant
Frank R. Bryant
Mrs. Lillian B. Bryant
Rumana McManis
Ruth M. Dunbar
Harvey C. Smith
Marjorie Vaughan
Mrs. Kate E. Gibbs
160
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Kathryn A. Gibbs
Harry A. Gibbs
J. Judson Shugart
Mrs. Cora B. Shugart
Ina May Shugart
Grace M. Shugart
Helen R. Shugart
Mary A. Triplet
David Stephens
Chester C. Smith
Charles Alpaugh
Charles H. Gibbs
William M. Harris
Raymond Hensel
Fred Hedenschoug
Arthur Wright
Mrs. Susie Downing
Exie Peterson
A. Ward Greenwood
Archibald Gibbs
Roy Gibbs
Charles L. Pendleton
Harriet Grace Pendleton
Fannie Shettel
James H. Wilson
Marjorie A. Best
Max Helen Peterson
Ada M. Harris
Blanche M. Harris
Holmes D. Ferris
Freada Nelson
Emma Harwood
Bertha Lothridge
Dorothy Lothridge
Madge Peterson
Ned Peterson
Fred Gibbs
Charles Moran
Arvid Berg
Harold Main
Edgar Main
Arthur Main
Nina D. Main
Charles C. Barrett
Mrs. Katherine Barrett
Mrs. J. H. Delano
Edna Phelps
Jessie E. Phelps
Mrs. George P. Pettee, Sr.
George P. Pettee, Sr.
Mamie Pettee
Parker J. Newell
Howard G. Gibbs
Mrs. Howard G. Gibbs
Helen Perkins
Godfry F. Anderson
Mrs. Anna L. Anderson
T. P. Gunning
Mrs. Vernie V. Wright
Mrs. Carrie Hensel
S. R. Coppins
Mrs. Frank Kramer
Mrs. Charles Mbmert
Glen R. Farley
Joseph Lanktree
Miriam Nichols
Pearl Nichols
Milton Smith
Chester Williams
Eula F. Williams
Lola M. Struthers
Janet E. Bryant
161
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
John G. Minnick
Jennie M. Cottle
Charles M. Lea
Mrs. Lizzie Lea
Ethel M. Lea
Adrain M. Lea
Mildred Norton
Camilla K. Dunbar
Ruth G. Huntington
Joseph A. Huntington
Hattie Darlene Moran
Philip Gerner
Mrs. Elizabeth Gerner
Carl E. Gerner
Hazel A. Gerner
Henning Bjork
Ruth A. Berg
John J. Warfield
Sydney D. J. Harrison
Mrs. William M. Harris
John A. Rudiger
Althea A. Clark
James White
Mrs. Ida M. White
Verne Makutchan
Cecille Bell Bowman
Edward S. Ferris
Mrs. M. M. Kinney
Rozell Kinter
Mrs. Rozell Kinter
Enoch Oberg
Mrs. Enoch Oberg
Alice Vickery
Blanche Robinson
Blanche Yarrington
Mrs. Susie Yarrington
Stella Yarrington
Ruth Yarrington
Grace Yarrington
Edith Moscrop
Katherine Shepard
Joe S. Cowley
Eli Smith
Clarinda Smith
Grace Smith
Florence Smith
William H. Booth
Mrs. Ann E. Booth
May Booth
Mrs. Abbie J. Gunning
H. M. McCray
Mrs. H. M. McCray
Vera McCray
F. C. Duncan
Mrs. F. C. Duncan
Kate Duncan
Harry Dunbar
C. W. Messick
Mrs. Margaret Messick
Mary L. Uthoff
1907
Charles L. Trimble
Mrs. Eva C. Trimble
Ethel M. Lea
Mrs. S. R. Coppins
Henry 0. Morris
Mrs. Henry 0. Morris
Clark J. McManis
Mrs. Laura McManis
Lyle Garmen
Everette D. Lowe
162
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Mrs. Everette D. Lowe
Lillian Lowe Oberg
Mrs. Adelaide Ward
Mrs. E. L. Sargent
Ava M. Gray
Beulah M. Baie
Hazel R. McCray
Mary Denhnam
Harry P. Phelps
Mrs. Josephine Phelps
1908
Sylvester T. Brigham
Byron Swarthout
Mrs. Grace Lowe
1909
Melvin Griswold
Mrs. Althea Griswold
Mrs. J. E. Shawl
Ray Shawl
Ruth Shawl
Joseph Pratt
Mrs. Laura W. Pratt
Louise Thomas
Mrs. E. L. Sargent
Merrill Reeve Norton
Blanche Sargent
Sue R. Essington
Dorothy May Pratt
Bess Ann Pratt
Ellis Edward Pratt
Mrs. Hannah Knox
James Mclnnes
Mrs. Ada Mclnnes
Marianna McKee
Hazel Hanson
Herma Hanson
Gladys Hanson
Adelbert Mowry
Mrs. Ada Mowry
Claude Mowry
Allen Mowry
J. C. Field
Mrs. Eva Field
Helen Field
J. LeRoy Strong
Nora Anthony
Mrs. Ina Nye
1910
F. W. Winbolt
Mrs. F. W. Winbolt
E. M. Stanard
Mrs. E. M. Stanard
Jessie Cook
B. M. Southgate
Mrs. Josephine Southgate
Olive Southgate
Paul T. Southgate
Dorothy T. Southgate
Vera Morgan
Vida Morgan
Beva Morgan
Bessie Morgan
Mary Lanktree
Mary Wingert
J. Massilon McConihe
John M. Rambo
Mrs. Florence B. Rambo
1911
Louis A. Garwood
Howard E. Stimson
163
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Sidney J. Gray
Howard W. Bryant
David Verle Naugle
Jacob Vivian Naugle
Milton Hoover
Mrs. Fannie J. Chester
L. M. Perkins
Mrs. L. M. Perkins
Cora Perkins
Emerson Perkins
Mrs. Frances T. Roe
Sumner Kasbeer
Mrs. Sumner Kasbeer
Guy Kasbeer
Marguerite M. Pettee
Harold Arthur Pettee
Wilbur Griswold
Roy Franks
James Fletcher
Mrs. Caroline M. Fletcher
1912
Nellye B. Nelson
A. Geneva Nelson
Evelyn C. Nelson
1913
Mrs. Anna Berlin
Newton Berlin
Irwin Berlin
Harold E. Parr
Anton A. Hallberg
Mrs. Alice Kasbeer
J. S. Nelson
Mrs. J. S. Nelson
S. Angie Murphy
Adelbert Vickery
Mrs. Anna Nellie Ross
Camilla B. Ferris
Maud Elizabeth Birkey
Dorothy C. Miiller
1914
Geneva L. Wright
Pauline H. Wright
Blanche Landahl
J. P. Taylor
Albert E. Wagner
Mrs. Linna M. Hock
Harriet Beulah Greener
Bessie A. Landahl
Dee Howard Norton
Mrs. Dee Howard Norton
W. R. Shugart
Mrs. W. R. Shugart
Mrs. W. T. Naugle
Mrs. Elmer Gross
Charles Allen Gross
Mrs. Laura C. Wilson
1915
Henry J. Lee
Mrs. Henry J. Lee
Morgan J. Greener
Mrs. Morgan J. Greener
Mrs. Roxanna Shifflett
Charles Wixom
Mrs. Charles Wixom
Frank H. Wixom
Roy R. Wixom
Nellie A. Wixom
Geneva L. Wright
164
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
1916
W. G. Hallam
Mrs. W. G. Hallam
Mrs. D. H. Dean
Paul Bennett Ferris
James Albert Kasbeer
1917
David Johnson
Lola Lewis
Ruth Alexi
Minnie Warnecke
Harold Linn
Harry Zable
Wright Hedenschoug
Arthur Hedenschoug
Rubert Lewis
Douglas Ferris
Hugh Ferris
Reo J. J. Fletcher
Clyde Wixom
Jessie Wixom
Max Seelig
J. Forrest Peterson
Mrs. Mary Harrison
James Herron
Howard L. Warling
Virgil Lee Warling
Oscar Warling
Mrs. Zena Shettel
Vida V. Shettel
Evelyn Ross
Mrs. Oscar Warling
Hiram E. Piper
Viola L. Piper
Dorothy M. Piper
Donald Kay
William Harrison
Lillian Harrison
Carolyn Howard
Dorothy Morgan
Ethel Harrison
Lucile Stanard
Mrs. Vernie M. Palmer
Mildred Palmer
Myron L. Cass
Mrs. George Gray
J. A. Yarrington
Beulah Jensen
Herma M. Jensen
Taylor Jensen
A. H. Pannebaker, Jr.
Thomas Jensen
Mrs. Thomas Jensen
Gladys Jensen
Mrs. Laura Howard
Mrs. Maude Campbell
Bessie Young
Miles Fox
Mrs. Miles Fox
Mrs. Sarah Morgan
Alma Bennett
Mrs. Edna Pannebaker
Elizabeth Kay
Fred Warnecke
Britton Anderson
Harry Greenwood
Sidney Bryant
Walter Paschen
Vernon R. Hoover
165
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
1918
Joseph Miller
Mrs. Joseph Miller
Mrs. Eva M. Greener
Lillian Ruttan
Frank Hoffman
Mrs. Frank Hoffman
Gerald Hoffman
1919
Mrs. G. T. Carpenter
D. W. Grant
Mrs. D. W. Grant
Guy L. Sharp
Mrs. Guy L. Sharp
Alice Mabel Sharp
Anna Marie Oberschelp
Mrs. Rosa Bachman
Mrs. Max Peterson Sapp
Alexander P. Smythe
Mrs. Alexander P. Smythe
Isabelle Phoebe Smythe
Earl K. Smythe
Sarah Grace Smythe
1920
Herbert L. Littlefield
Mary L. Littlefield
Esther G. Hooglund
Anna Marie Hooglund
Myrtle E. Pierson
Lorena B. Campbell
Alice L. Hock
Gladys M. Booth
Alice L. Anderson
Katherine D. Barrett
Marjorie E. Garvin
Margaret Bruton
Doris Bruton
Ruth Elizabeth Morris
1921
Jane M. Smith
J. H. Riley
Mrs. J. H. Riley
Mrs. Eunice G. Pratt
Charles A. Davis
Mrs. Charles A. Davis
T. L. Wilson
Mrs. T. L. Wilson
Edwin T. Nichols
Mrs. Edwin T. Nichols
Mrs. Grace Clark Norris
Marjorie Stauffer
Theodore Wilson
Margaret Helen Ennis
Madeline Bachman
Isabel Bryant
May Bryant
Charles P. Stauffer
Mrs. Persis Stauffer
Pauline Stauffer
Geneva Brenneke
Mrs. Jennie Brenneke
Eleanore Rawson
Richard Ferris
Cloyd Riley
Edwin Booth
Helen Booth
Robert Booth
Earl Lewis
Forrest Booth
Frances Adams
166
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Jennie Burr
Mrs. Grace Adams
Mrs. Mary E. Houghton
Mrs. Roy Gibbs
Mrs. James Kasbeer
Albert Carlson
Mrs. Bessie M. Carlson
Mrs. Mona Lee
Anna R. Hoffman
Marie Ruger
1922
Minnie Agnes Phelps
Mrs. Elsie Edwards Sidle
Kermit Sidle
Roger William Harris
Morris Guy Campbell
Mrs. Luella Farwell
Grace Farwell
Elmer Conkling
Mrs. Elmer Conkling
Vivian Conkling
Eugene Conkling
Mrs. Eugene Conkling
Frank Billeaux
Mrs. Frank Billeaux
Isadore Hawdon
1923
Violetta Wilson
Margaret Pratt
Warren Fox
Lillian Bryant
Richard Campbell
Jeannette Kitterman
Clayton Adams
Viola Adams
Carrie Dunbar
Olive B. Pierce
Mrs. Orrin Spaulding
Mamie Hook
Norman Weeks
Mrs. Norman Weeks
Percy Allen
W. G. Hendricks
Mrs. W. G. Hendricks
Mrs. Anglett S. Haddock
Joseph Findley
Mrs. Joseph Findley
Orrin Spaulding
Antonio Fenoglio
Mrs. Antonio Fenoglio
1924
Robert James Watson
Mrs. Robert J. Watson
Mearns A. Booth
Mrs. Mearns A. Booth
1925
Marjorie May Simons
Eunice Morse
Charles Lester Booth
Grace Carolyn Farwell
Myron Curtis Hoover
John Sumner Kasbeer
Harvey A. Clark
Mrs. Daisy L. Clark
Helen Warnecke
Mrs. Mary L. Lewis
Mary Annette Page
L. D. Coulter
Mrs. L. D. Coulter
Robert Dean Coulter
167
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Edna B. Anderson
George Billeaux
Albert Carlson, Jr.
Aldine Duffield
William Nichols Findley
Miriam Findley
Virgil Fox
Gordon Kasbeer
Ronald Peterson
Ned Sapp
Pearl Uthoff
Ralph Crownover
Kenneth Huffaker
Roger Piper
Roy Piper
Mrs. Bess Pollard
N. M. Elder
Mrs. N. M. Elder
Paul Elder
Andrew Polland
1926
John Bouxsein
Mrs. John Bouxsein
Mrs. Anna Riley
Gerda Bouxsein
Mervin A. Johnson
Beulah E .Wise
Mrs. John McCall
Helen Charles
Glen A. Foster
Jessie Harrison DeRose
Mrs.' Herman Smith
Alta Louise Smith
Clarence Chelin
Mrs. Clarence Chelin
Mrs. Glen A. Foster
Mrs. Grace T. Graham
Evelyn E. Graham
Dorothy Ann Morse
A. E. Owens
Mrs. Stella F. Owens
Charles J. Greener
Maurice Bouxsein
Mrs. Maurice Bouxsein
Carl Henry Bouxsein
Helen L. Eastman
1927
H. L. Huffaker
Mrs. H. L. Huffaker
Jane M. Smith
Mrs. Hugh Ferris
Mrs. Percy Allen
Charles Vroom
Mrs. Charles Vroom
1929
H. William Stiles
Martha Stiles
Paul Stiles
Mrs. Frank Peterson
Mrs. Forrest Peterson
Max Pannebaker
Mrs. Edith L. Parker
Ruth Parker
Marian Hock
Dorothy Hock
Hazel Staples
Janet Green
Jack Kimberly
Robert Bradley
Jack Nickelson
168
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Charles P. Burr
Melvin Hayes
Marion Powell
Helen Louise Hewitt
Olive Story
Charles Kasbeer
Edward L. Campbell
Harold Parr
Dick Sapp
Clyde C. Campbell
[Note.] — Wherever a name occurs more than once, letters have
been taken and later the member has reunited with this church.
169
Echoes of A Century
A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
A NEW ENGLAND SERVICE OF SONG
A NEW ENGLAND DINNER
AN HISTORICAL PAGEANT
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
An Appreciation
The Church desires to express its indebtedness
to all who have shared in the planning
and production of the program
of the Centennial
Celebration.
172
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
GENERAL CENTENNIAL COMMITTEES
HISTORICAL
Ella W. Harrison
Pauline Schenk Olive Pierce
Jessie A. Phelps F. W. Stewart
Carrie Dunbar S. T. Brigham
BOOK
Jessie A. Phelps, Evelyn E. Graham, Editors
T. A. Fenoglio, Business Manager
PROGRAM AND PAGEANT
Minnie Agnes Phelps
Camilla B. Ferris E. B. Cushing
MUSIC
Ozella Seward
Grace Farwell Margaret Helen Paden
DINNER
Grace L. C. Norris
Nancy Jane Phillips Mary L. Uthoff
Eva B. Field Max Sapp
Edna Pannebaker Elizabeth Ferris
Katherine S. Gibbs
HOSPITALITY
Mary L. Uthoff
Miriam Nichols Hazel Kasbeer
Carrie Dunbar Bess Carlson
PUBLICITY
Minnie Agnes Phelps
T. A. Fenoglio Mary L. Uthoff
173
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
limitation
We hope you are interested in, and can attend
the Centennial Celebration of the Old
HAMPSHIRE COLONY
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
OF PRINCETON, ILLINOIS
which is being celebrated at the church Sunday,
March twenty-second, and Monday, March twenty-
third, nineteen hundred and thirty-one.
On Sunday morning at eleven o'clock the sermon
will be given by a former pastor. Sunday evening
at seven-thirty a sacred concert of early American
church music followed by an historical address.
Monday, a noontime dinner at one o'clock with
after-dinner talks and letters from former pastors
and friends. Monday evening at eight o'clock a
colorful pageant portraying our church history.
Cordially yours,
Invitation Committee,
Rev. H. W. Stiles,
Mrs. R. D. Harrison,
Mrs. Alfred Norris,
Mr. Eli Smith,
Mr. Sylvester Brigham.
174
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
A NEW ENGLAND SERVICE OF SONG
SUNDAY EVENING, MARCH 22, 1931
ARRANGED AND DIRECTED BY OZELLA SEWARD
Grace Farwell, Accompanist. Margaret Helen Paden, Historian
Melodeon Prelude - - - "In the Sweet By-and-By"
Gertrude Skinner
1 Psalms— "Old Hundred" (1554) - - Puritan Chorus
"Dundee" (1564)
2 Psalm 107 Mildred Shugart
3 Psalm with Interludes - - - "Lift Thine Eyes"
Daisy Hayes
4 "Mear" (1726) - - - The First American Hymn
Puritan Chorus
5 "0 Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me" - - Handel
(A favorite of Nellie Custis, step-daughter of George Washington)
Ruth Stevens
6 "One Sweetly Solemn Thought" ... Ambrose
Men's Double Quartette
7 "Flee As A Bird" - Dana
Dorothy Trimmer
8 "Behold, There Shall Be A Day" - - - Wooler
Orville Brokaw
9 "Thanks Be To God" Dickson
"God of Our Fathers" Warren
(A Centennial Tribute)
Arthur Fleming, David Hamm, Mac Russell, Alex Smythe,
Van Fossler, Chester Williams, Jack Best, Emil Swanson
Harold Lowry, Trumpeter
Historical Address - Rev. Vernon W. Cooke
175
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
A NEW ENGLAND DINNER
THE CHURCH DINING-ROOM
MONDAY, 1:00 P. M., MARCH 23, 1931
Toastmaster - Rev. H. Wm. Stiles
Solo— "Listen To The Mocking Bird" - - Evelyn Ross
Whistling Obligato by Margaret Helen Paden
Greetings from the State Conference - Dr. Robt. J. Locke
Greetings from the Local Churches - Rev. John Acheson
Words from Former Pastors —
Rev. Robert J. Watson
Rev. John W. Welsh
Solos ------- Ruth Stevens
"Just For Today"
"The Last Rose Of Summer"
Letters from Former Members - - Ella W. Harrison
Reminiscences —
Dr. H. M. Bascom
Rev. Chas. A. Nelson
Others
Closing Hymn - "Blest Be The Tie That Binds"
176
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
An Historical Pageant
IN SEVEN EPISODES WITH A CAST OF ONE HUNDRED
AND FIFTY PERSONS
I RUMORS OF COLONIZATION IN THE "FAR WEST"
II THE MEETING IN WARNER'S COFFEE HOUSE
III VOLUNTEERS FOR THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY
CHURCH
IV THE ORGANIZATION OF THE HAMPSHIRE
COLONY CHURCH
V THE DOUBLE WEDDING AT CONWAY
VI PIONEERING IN ILLINOIS
VII THE FIRST GOLDEN WEDDING CELEBRATED
IN PRINCETON
177
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
PRODUCTION STAFF
Grace Farwell
DIRECTORS
Minnie Agnes Phelps
Martha Stiles
MUSIC
Ozella Seward
Margaret Helen Paden
COSTUMES
Margaret P. McKee
Grace Bryant
Kate Shepherd Gibbs
Freada 0. Nelson
PROPERTIES
Edith Cowley
Joe Cowley Max Sapp
Grace Hoover Eva Greener
Melvin Griswold
Louise Mosely
Sara Smythe
Virden Sapp
Myron Hoover
Harriet Weller
Orpha Ellis
J. C. Field
BONNETS
Elizabeth K. Wilson
Mary Stanard Miriam Nichols
STAGE
H. Wm. Stiles
T. L. Wilson
M. G. Griswold
George Billeaux
CURTAIN
USHERS
E. C. Pryor
Myron Hoover
Richard Campbell
Ned Sapp
T. A. Fenoglio
J. Forrest Peterson
M. G. Campbell
Paul Stiles
Bruce Grant
Albert Carlson
Albert Pannebaker
Roger Piper
Chester C. Williams
Paul Stiles
178
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
EPISODE I
RUMORS OF COLONIZATION IN THE "FAR WEST"
1831 CHARACTERS 1931
Ezra Stebbins, a skeptic, - - - E. B. Cushing
Deborah Stebbins, his wife, - Mary Coman Cushing
TIME: February 10, 1831. Early candle light.
SCENE: A New England kitchen, Northampton, Massachu-
setts. (Mrs. Stebbins, an elderly woman, is seen sitting by the fire
knitting. Footsteps are heard and she rises as her husband enters
bundled up with woolen scarf, mittens, etc., and with a basket on
his arm. She helps him off with his wraps and busies herself get-
ting him a cup of coffee, opening his basket, putting away the
groceries, etc. Meanwhile the man removes his boots and puts on
carpet slippers, talking as he does so.)
Mr. Stebbins — Pretty cold tonight. Strong east wind.
A storm brewing, I guess.
Mrs. Stebbins — Did you find the sheep man?
Mr. Stebbins — Yes, he'll be here Friday to get the
wool. I sold the butter, too. Was just in time. Eben Sloan
starts for Boston tomorrow morning, with a load of pork
and was glad to get it. That's a hard trip to Boston —
must be in the neighborhood of a hundred miles. It will take
the better part of five days to make it. Eben is anxious to
get off so he can get back while he can cross the rivers
on the ice.
Mrs. Stebbins — Any of our folks in town today?
Mr. Stebbins — No, but Thomas Hunt is back and was
at the tavern. You should hear the story he's telling. He
claims to have been two hundred miles west of Ohio to what
he calls the Illinois Country. You'd think, to hear him talk,
that he'd been in paradise. He's getting the young folks all
stirred up. Elijah and Eli Smith were there drinking in
every word he said.
179
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Mrs. Stebbins — But there is nobody really thinking of
going way out there, is there?
Mr. Stebbins — Yes, you remember a while back some
of the younger men formed the "Illinois Colonial Associa-
tion" or the "Hampshire Colony". Some call it one thing,
some another. But anyhow, they are trying to get a colony
together to go out west this spring.
Mrs. Stebbins — This spring! Why they can't do that.
It's nearly the middle of February now !
Mr. Stebbins— Well, that's the talk anyhow. (Slight
pause while he goes to his overcoat and takes a newspaper
from his pocket.) I got "The Hampshire Gazette" on my way
home. We'll see if there's anything in it about this colony
talk. (Opens the paper, looks it over.) Yes, there is. See
here. (Reads.)
"HAMPSHIRE COLONIAL ASSOCIATION"
"A meeting of the above association will be holden at
Warner's Coffee House, Northampton, on Wednesday the
16th inst. at 7 o'clock in the evening. Persons interested and
those desirous of uniting with them are invited to attend the
meeting. Mr. Thomas M. Hunt, who has just returned from
a trip of exploration to the new State of Illinois, will be
present to address the meeting.
Per Order of Committee,
D. B. Jones, Sec'y."
"The printers of the Old County of Hampshire are re-
quested to copy."
— "Old Hampshire County" — that means all the western
end of Massachusetts — pretty well up to Vermont. Well-
that begins to look as though they meant business. Wed-
nesday, the sixteenth. That's next Wednesday, isn't it?
Mrs. Stebbins — But, I don't see why they want to go
so far away and into the wilds. They'll have to begin life
all over again.
Mr. Stebbins — Oh ! they're looking for something easy.
Think the winters are too long and cold here — say the soil
doesn't yield enough to pay for tilling it. Young folks are
180
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
never satisfied. I don't know what's going to become of
them — always wanting something just out of reach. What
this old world's coming to is more than I can guess. (Pauses
and reads a moment or two.) I'm tired — guess I'll go to
bed.
(Rises, winds the clock, lights a candle and goes out.
Mrs. Stebbins picks up the paper, reads a little while, then
rises, grinds the coffee, puts out the cat and goes out.)
—CURTAIN-
EPISODE II
THE MEETING IN WARNER'S COFFEE HOUSE
1831 CHARACTERS 1931
George Brown, a clerk in the tavern, Albert Pannabaker
Deacon Phelps, President of Hampshire Colony
Association,
Butler Denham, a traveler,
Nathaniel Chamberlin, a doctor,
D. B. Jones, Colony Clerk,
S. D. Hinsdale
Seth C. Clapp
Israel Blodgett
Thomas M. Hunt
Daniel Brown -
Samuel Brown -
Elijah Smith
Eli Smith
Ezra Stebbins
John Leonard -
Robert G. Kelsey
Richard Campbell
Laurence Deets
Ned Sapp
Herbert Littlefield
E. C. Prior
J. R. Jardine
Melvin Griswold
Aldean Duffield
Wright Hedenschoug
Robert Booth
Myron Hoover
E. B. Cushing
Chester Williams
TIME: The evening of February 16, 1831.
SCENE: Warner's Coffee House, Northampton, Massachusetts.
The clerk is at the desk; Hinsdale and Clapp are playing checkers at
a side table. Enter, talking, Deacon Phelps, Thomas Hunt and Dr.
Chamberlin. Enter by twos and threes the other characters. The
deacon takes the chair and calls the meeting to order.
181
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Deacon — You are aware of the purpose of this meet-
ing. It is sometime since the Hampshire Colony was or-
ganized here in Northampton from men gathered for the
purpose from Amherst, Springfield, Belchertown, Hadley,
and even from Putney and other points of Vermont.
At our last formal meeting, you will remember, the
colony agreed to help pay the exploring expenses of our
fellow townsman, Thomas M. Hunt, a druggist of this com-
munity, desiring to find a new location in the much talked
of west. Mr. Hunt has recently returned and is here to-
night. He will tell us what his explorations revealed and
reply to any question we may desire to ask. Mr. Hunt.
Hunt — Well, there's so much to tell that I hardly know
where to begin. Thanks to our good friend, 0. W. Chamber-
lain of 'The Hampshire Gazette", many of us had our atten-
tion called to the interesting volumes of Lewis and Clark.
I profited greatly on my journey by my perusal of their
illuminating observations of the new country and the trails
in the far west.
I went by way of the Erie Canal and Great Lakes to
Detroit in Michigan, and thence to Fort Dearborn, on the
lake in the northern part of the new State of Illinois. Here
I found land so low, swampy and beachy, that I wouldn't
take it, for farming, as a precious gift. I then crossed
probably a hundred and fifty miles of wonderful prairie land,
for the most part admirably suited to cultivation, to Peoria
which is situated on a little lake of the same name, really
an arm of the Illinois River. There, I found that a two-
horse stage ran infrequently between St. Louis and Galena
by way of Springfield, so I decided to go on to St. Louis.
The land is wonderful. I did not see an acre of waste
land on the way south of Peoria. But on the whole, the
country between Fort Dearborn, both east and west of the
Fort Dearborn trail to Peoria, appealed to me most. Broad
sweeping prairies, no hills, no gullies; you can see for
miles in all directions. It is all government land and you can
182
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
take up all you want at a dollar and a quarter an acre. The
soil is a deep, black loam, rich and easily tilled. It needs no
fertilizing and there are no stones or stumps to hinder cul-
tivation.
Stebbins — Humph! You can't believe all you hear,
men!
Daniel Brown — Did you say there are no stones in that
land?
Hunt — Absolutely, none on the prairies. Why, you can
run a clean furrow miles long and strike neither stones,
trees nor stumps.
Stebbins — I'd have to see that. And say, I hear there
are Indians running loose out there, too!
Samuel Brown — If there are no stones what do they
build their fences of?
Elijah Smith — If there's no timber, how can houses
be built and what about fuel?
Hunt — I said there were neither stones nor trees on
the prairies, but the creeks and rivers are wooded so you
need have no fear about building, fuel or fence material.
Yes, Stebbins, there are Indians out there on the plains.
It's their native land, you know, and they have done some
pretty awful things to the whites. But one has to take a
chance on his own scalp, look sharp, and hope for the best.
Clapp — What's the best way to get there, Mr. Hunt?
Hunt — Either by the way I went, or from Boston by
boat to New Orleans, then up the Mississippi River to St.
Louis and across country by wagon. This way is easiest
and may take less time, but it costs more. It took me be-
tween five and six weeks the other way. I'll show you a
trail map later.
Jones — Sullivan Conant, Mr. Bicknell, Rufus Brown,
Israel Blodgett and I have already fully decided, Providence
willing, to go out to northern Illinois in the fall, and I, hav-
ing no family dependent upon me, agree to build, by spring,
183
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
a double cabin to shelter you colony folks when you get
there. (Applause.)
Deacon — What about churches and schools? We can't
rear our families without them.
Hunt — Churches and schools ? Why man alive, Illinois
is a great stretch of raw, unbroken, unf enced prairie, miles
upon miles in extent. Some roving Indians and a few
scattered white settlers, but no modern advantages. You'll
have to take your schools and churches with you, I guess.
Deacon — That's a worthy idea. We will follow it up and
to that end I now invite all of you who are interested in
the matter to come to my house on Wednesday evening
next, to discuss the formation of a Hampshire Colony
Church, which, under God's guidance, we may take with us
to our new prairie homes. We will now adjourn for further
informal talk with Mr. Hunt.
—CURTAIN—
184
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
EPISODE III
VOLUNTEERS FOR THE HAMPSHIRE
COLONY CHURCH.
1831 CHARACTERS 1931
Rev. Ichabod Spencer, the pastor of the First or
Jonathan Edwards Church, - - Rev. H. Wm. Stiles
George Rockwell, the precentor, - C. R. F. Billeaux
VOLUNTEERS
Ebenezer Strong Phelps
Anne Wright Phelps
Amos C. Morse -
Lucinda Morse -
Elisha Wood -
Abigail Wood -
Samuel Brown -
Daniel Brown ...
Levi Jones -
Louisa Jones -
Alvah Whitmarsh ...
Naomi Whitmarsh ...
Elijah Smith ....
John Leonard ...
Sylvia Childs -
Clarissa Childs ...
Maria Lyman -
Nathaniel Chamberlin
Robert G. Kelsey
Isadore Hawdon
Guy Campbell
Maude Campbell
Fred Warnecke
Marie Warnecke
Wright Hedenschoug
Aldean Duffield
Joe Anderson
Dorothy Anderson
Charles J. Greener
Herma Naomi Clark
Robert Booth
Chester C. Williams
Gerda Bouxsein
Myrtle Pierson
Eva M. Greener
Laurence Deets
TIME: The evening of March 9, 1831.
SCENE: The First or Jonathan Edwards Church, Northamp-
ton, Massachusetts. Audience seated. Rev. Spencer enters the pul-
pit; the precentor takes his accustomed place.
Rev. Spencer — Let us begin this meeting worshipfully
with a hymn. (The precentor "lines" the hymn "How Firm
A Foundation." Following the singing, Scripture (Genesis
12:1-5) and a prayer by the pastor.)
Rev. Spencer — My friends, we have assembled today
for a very serious matter. As you all know, a company of
young people are thinking of moving to the far west to es-
185
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
tablish new homes and settle a new land. We know little
about this distant country except that there is very much
land to be possessed. The character of a country is fixed
by its beginnings, so it is desired that the great valley of
the Mississippi be settled by men and women whose main
object is not to make money, nor to escape from the re-
straints of society, but who desire above all else, to estab-
lish God-fearing homes, where children may grow up and
carry on the good work begun by our Pilgrim fathers. That
there may be, at once, a center about which all that is
truest and best can rally, it has been decided to organize a
church here, which shall be transplanted to Illinois soil. We
know bitter hardships are most certainly connected with
pioneer efforts. This new country is without road or
house to guide the traveler. Hostile Indians lurk in unsus-
pected places. Until a crop can be raised the food supply
will have to depend upon the fish of the streams and the
game of the prairies. Homesickness will come, like an
overwhelming flood and it is doubtful if the homes you
now leave will ever be seen again by you. The journey is
one long hardship. Some of you have endured the discom-
forts of the boats on the Erie Canal. The inadequate ac-
commodations of the steam boats from Buffalo west, are
little better and passengers must share space with ani-
mals and freight. From Fort Dearborn the journey con-
tinues by wagon over a roadless country in which are seem-
ingly bottomless sloughs and heart breaking mud. There
will be no friendly welcome awaiting at the end of the
journey. It is a hard, a bitter prospect indeed. Consider
well the step you are taking and let no one without a deep
conviction that this call is of God dare attempt it. There is
no need to say more. You have been thinking and pray-
ing— you have decided what you will do. Today, we are
assembled to give you an opportunity to publicly express
that decision. I ask any now in this audience who have
chosen to accept this as God's call and who willingly offer
186
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
themselves for candidates for membership in the proposed
Hampshire Colony Congregational Church to now rise.
(Succeeding a solemn pause, the volunteers singly and in
couples, slowly rise.)
Rev. Spencer —
"The Lord bless thee and keep thee,
The Lord make His face to shine upon thee
The Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon thee,
And give thee peace."
(Candidates resume seats.)
Rev. Spencer — On the second Lord's Day, March
23, 1831, at 8 o'clock in the evening, this congregation is
invited to reconvene in this meeting house to hear the re-
port of a church council made up of pastors and delegates
from Belchertown, Conway, and Northampton, Massa-
chusetts, and of Putney, Vermont, which will hold an exe-
cutive session immediately preceding the evening meeting
at the house of Deacon Ebenezer Strong Phelps of this
city to examine these volunteer church colony candidates
and pass upon their letters, preliminary to the formal or-
ganization at that time of the Hampshire Colony Congre-
gational Church and their fitness for membership there-
in. (The pastor raises his hand in benediction, the con-
gregation quietly rises, stands with heads deeply bowed,
then files solemnly and silently from the church.)
—CURTAIN—
187
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
EPISODE IV
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE HAMPSHIRE
COLONY CHURCH.
THE NORTHAMPTON CHURCH COUNCIL
1831 CHARACTERS 1931
Rev. Solomon Williams, pastor emeritus, - R. D. Harrison
Rev. Ichabod Spencer, present pastor, Rev. H. Wm. Stiles
Hon. Lewis Strong, delegate, - - Frank Hoffman
Rev. Lyman Coleman, clerk of council,
Belchertown, - Sylvester T. Brigham
I. Towne, Esq., delegate, Belchertown Church, Eli Smith
Rev. Benj. H. Pitman, Moderator, Putney,
Vermont, - Rev. Frank S. Brewer
The Hampshire Colony Volunteers.
TIME : The evening of March 23, 1831.
SCENE: The First or Jonathan Edwards Church, Northamp-
ton, Massachusetts. The Communion table is spread. Audience files
in at intervals followed by members of the council. The meeting
opens with the hymn, "Come Thou Almighty King." Rev. Coleman
reads Scripture (Joshua 1:6-9) and prays.
TEXT: "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good
pleasure to give you the Kingdom." (Luke 12:32.)
Rev. Pitman — As moderator I now present the Rever-
end Ichabod Spencer who will conduct this service.
Rev. Spencer — The council, called by the Northamp-
ton Church at a conference just concluded at the home of
Deacon Ebenezer Strong Phelps, has satisfied itself as to
the fitness of the candidates and the authority of their let-
ters and finds them eminently suited to the great under-
taking before them. We will now proceed to organize them
into the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church. As
your names are called, you will please come forward.
Ebenezer Strong Phelps and Anne Wright, his wife,
of Northampton, Massachusetts.
Elisha Wood and Abigail, his wife, from Belchertown,
Massachusetts.
188
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Amos C. Morse and Lucinda, his wife, from Belcher-
town, Massachusetts.
John Leonard from Warwick, Massachusetts.
Alvah Whitmarsh and Naomi, his wife, from the First
Church of Springfield, Massachusetts.
Levi Jones and Louise, his wife, from South Church,
Amherst, Massachusetts.
Nathaniel Chamberlin of Putney, Vermont.
Maria Lyman from the First Church of South Hadley,
Massachusetts.
Samuel and Daniel Brown of Belchertown, Massachu-
setts.
Clarissa Childs, Sylvia Childs and Elijah Smith from
Conway, Massachusetts.
(After they have come forward.)
My beloved, you have accepted the Confession of Faith
of our church as your own; you will now enter into the
Covenant.
"We, now, in the presence of God and His people most
solemnly surrender ourselves, bodies and spirits, to God as
a living sacrifice and we do renounce the world, the flesh
and the devil, fully purposing, in the strength of the grace
of God, to abstain from every evil way and to live a life of
new obedience ,making the Word of God our only rule and
practice. We promise that we will constantly endeavor to
promote the peace, the harmony and prosperity of the Church
of Jesus Christ, walking with the members in Christian
faithfulness and love, submitting ourselves to every divine or-
dinance for the Lord's sake, punctual and prayerful in our
attendance on all the worship of God's house, that we will not
neglect the seals of God's covenant, Baptism and the Lord's
Supper, that we will strictly observe the Sabbath as Holy
unto the Lord, that we will lend our influence to the cause
of temperance and sobriety, observe secret devotion and, as
far as God may give us opportunity, family worship, and in
all things earnest in endeavor to perfect holiness in the fear
of God, relying on the grace and spirit of Jesus Christ as we
shall answer to Him at the last day. Amen."
Do you thus covenant with God and this Church?
(Candidates bow.)
189
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
You are going out from the home of your fathers and
the graves of your kindred. But God will go with you.
Sometimes from the distant land you will look back to the
scenes of your early lives and we can give your assurance
that you will be remembered and loved when you are
gone. Around these altars and from this Communion table,
we pledge ourselves to send up our prayer to God in heaven
for you. Seal your love to Christ and love to one another,
over these august emblems of your Saviour's crucifixion
and strengthen the cords of love that shall bind your hearts
to the brethren you have left, when mountains rise and
rivers roll between. Here, as a Church of Christ, you take
your first communion. Soon you will find graves in a dis-
tant land, but "fear not, little flock ; for it is your Father's
pleasure to give you the Kingdom." God grant it to you.
Amen.
(Candidates resume seats. There follows the sermon
by Rev. Ichabod Spencer.)
My beloved brethren, if you would secure the pros-
perity of your infant church, you must be always atten-
tive to your personal religion. If you are wrong there, you
will be wrong everywhere. Your public acts and public
influence, your prayers will all partake of evil, your piety
will decline. The piety of any church is made up of the
piety of its members, and if you would not injure the piety
of others and diminish its influence, too, you must your-
self possess a strong devoted, decided piety of the heart.
Let these things that I have named be in you and abound,
and your Father will give you the Kingdom. Be such a
church as I have sketched and it must be, it will be that
you will enjoy frequent revivals of religion and your little
flock will be increased in numbers, in devotion, in piety,
and in joys of the Holy Ghost.
(There follows the hymn, "My Faith Looks Up To
Thee.")
190
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Rev. Brewer — I have this communication from niegh-
boring congregations:
"To the Hampshire Colony Church:
"Greetings from the Sister Churches of this Vicinity.
"We wish to assure you that we are all greatly inter-
ested in your purpose to carry the Gospel of Christ to your
new home in the far west. It is a great undertaking. Many
colonies have gone west. We know of no others who have
carried their church organization with them. A difficult
journey confronts you. Unknown hardships and dangers
await you in your distant home. Sometimes you will long
for a glimpse of your old homes and the old familiar faces.
But remember, the same kind Father keeps watch over His
children wherever their steps may lead them. Lean upon
His arm in the hours of sunshine and shadow alike. That
arm never fails.
" 'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength. They shall mount up on wings as eagles. They
shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.' "
And now let us all look in prayer to Him that never
faileth.
Almighty and Ever-lasting God, we humbly bow be-
fore Thee and invoke Thy blessing upon us as we gather
here for this solemn service. Bless, we pray Thee, in an
especial manner this group of men and women, who, under
the guidance of Thy Spirit, this day have banded them-
selves together as a church of Christ. May this bond of
Christian fellowship be as enduring as life itself. And as
they are soon to start on their journey to a distant land,
we beseech Thee, to protect them by Thy kind Providence
from the dangers that may beset them along the way. As
Thou didst lead Thy people of old through the wilderness
to the promised land, even so, we beseech Thee, lead these,
Thy people, in safety to their new home. And in Thine
own good time, when we all shall have come to the end of
the journey of life, grant that we shall again be united in
our eternal home. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we
ask it. Amen.
(Slowly and silently the audience files out.)
—CURTAIN—
191
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
EPISODE V
THE DOUBLE WEDDING AT CONWAY
"TWO BROTHERS WED TWO SISTERS"
"Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Bogue, of Conway, Massachusetts,
announce the approaching marriage of their daughters, Syl-
via Childs to Mr. Elijah Smith of Northmapton, and Clarissa
Childs to Mr. Eli Smith of the same place, to be solemnized
at the family home at eight o'clock on the evening of March
the thirty-first, eighteen hundred thirty-one.
"These young people are members of the recently organ-
ized Hampshire Colony with which, Providence permitting,
they will depart early in June, to establish homes on the fer-
tile prairies of Illinois.
"The prayers and kindly wishes of this entire section of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will accompany them
into the remote west."
— Hampshire County Gazette.
1831
Mr. Elisha Bogue
Mrs. Elisha Bogue
CHARACTERS
Mrs. Ann Smith -
(Mother, Elijah and Eli Smith)
Grandma Childs
Elijah Smith, groom,
Sylvia Childs, bride,
Eli Smith, groom,
Clarissa Childs, bride,
Nancy Stearns, bridesmaid,
Phoebe Snow, bridesmaid,
Israel Winslow, groomsman,
James Talbot, groomsman,
Betsey Blodgett, serving maid,
Mary Dalton, serving maid,
Isaac Towne, soloist,
Nancy Doolittle, cousin
Mary Pitman, cousin,
Eugene Strong, uncle,
1931
Frank Hoffman
Jennie Fay Hoffman
(Granddaughter, Elijah Smith)
Clara Allen Harris
Orpha Ellis
Robert Booth
Gerda Bouxsein
Myron Hoover
Myrtle Pierson
- Helen Booth
Eunice Morse
Richard Campbell
Ralph Crownover
Marjorie Simon
Alice Anderson
Orville Brokaw
Alice Hock
Dorothy Piper
T. A. Fenoglio
192
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
GUESTS
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Warnecke, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice
Bouxsein, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Kasbeer, Mr. and Mrs. For-
rest Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Weeks, Wright
Hedenschoug, Aldean Duffield, Isadore Hawdon, Ruth Park-
er, Julia Phelps Sisler, Chester C. Williams, Dorothy Piper,
Mervin Johnson, Pauline Stauffer, Violetta Wilson, Myron
Hoover, Alice Anderson, Marjory Simons, Albert Pannebaker,
Richard Campbell, Gretchen Baisch, Ned Sapp, T. A. Fenog-
lio, Emil Swanson, Orville Brokaw, Laurence Deets, Evelyn
Ross, Grace Farwell, Evelyn Graham, Geneva Nelson, Cora
Perkins, Minnie Warnecke.
TIME: The evening of March 31, 1831.
SCENE: Roomy parlor in home of Elisha Bogue, Conway,
Massachusetts. Enter Bridal Party, preceded by Reverend Ichabod
Spencer. The marriage ceremony is solemnized. Congratulations,
felicitations, etc.
Nancy Doolittle — It must indeed be hard for you, Mrs.
Bogue, to have your daughters go so far away, and es-
pecially into such a wild and unsettled state as Illinois.
Mrs. Bogue — Yes, it is hard and at first I could not
reconcile myself to it, but a woman's first duty is to her
husband, and both my daughters have chosen good men,
who will, I am sure, cherish and protect them.
Mary Pitman — I'd have to be desperately in love with
a man to risk my scalp in that wild land.
Mrs. Smith — Well, my child, unless you love a man
enough to go with him to the ends of the earth — yes, and
jump off, if need be — you'd better never marry at all.
Eugene Strong — There's a test, young lady, which will
call for some loyalty to measure up to.
Mary Pitman — Or a full sized man, maybe?
Mrs. Smith — You young folks must stop chattering
and listen to the music.
(Isaac Towne sings "Believe Me, If All Those En-
193
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
dearing Young Charms." Enter Betsey Browne and Mary
Dalton with wedding cakes which they place, with knives,
on side table. Brides come forward; each takes a knife
and cuts first slice of cake.)
—CURTAIN-
EPISODE VI
PIONEERING IN ILLINOIS
1831 CHARACTERS 1931
Elijah Smith - Robert Booth
Mrs. Elijah Smith - Gerda Bouxsein
Eli Smith - ... - Myron Hoover
Mrs. Eli Smith .... Myrtle Pierson
Dr. Chamberlin - - Lawrence Deets
Deacon Phelps .... Robert G. Kelsey
TIME: Ten A. M., October 20, 1831.
SCENE: The log cabin of Eli and Elijah Smith, three miles
north of Princeton, Illinois. Elijah Smith is working on the cabin.
Enter Deacon Phelps and Dr. Chamberlin.
Elijah Smith — Good morning, brethren. Fine autumn
day, isn't is?
Dr. Chamberlin — Busy, I see.
Elijah Smith — Yes, winter will soon be here and we
must have shelter.
Dr. Chamberlin — (looking about) Well, you folks are
going to have a fine home here. You and Eli are wise to
build a double cabin. It is much safer these times and
costs less, too.
Deacon Phelps — And you've a choice location, too,
Elijah. It seems more like home, somehow, to see the
timber so near.
194
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Elijah Smith — We think so. Only wish you were
nearer. There are only six of the Hampshire Colony
Church left here, now that Brother Amos is gone.
Deacon Phelps — Yes, I miss him very much, indeed.
You remember his family came out from Massachusetts
with mine.
Dr. Chamberlin — It was partly on account of Brother
Morse's death that we rode out this morning, Elijah. He
was church clerk, you know, and we must choose someone
in his place. You, Deacon Phelps, will preside at the ses-
sion, will you not?
Deacon Phelps — As senior deacon I suppose it is fit-
ting. (Pause) As you both know, Amos S. Morse was duly
elected church clerk when the Hampshire Colony Congre-
gational Church was organized in Northampton, Massa-
chusetts, last March. Whom will you suggest to act in his
stead?
Elijah Smith — I nominate Brother Chamberlin.
Deacon Phelps — I am quite content and, as the women
members of the church are not permitted to vote, your
wish and mine must, I think, prevail. Let us ask God's
blessing upon our choice. But first Brother Smith, better
call your wife, her sister Clarissa, and your brother Eli.
They, I think, will desire to join us in a season of prayer.
(Elijah Smith steps to the cabin door and calls them.
Enter Mrs. Elijah Smith and Mrs. Eli Smith from cabin;
Eli Smith follows from the rear with his gun on his
shoulder. All wish the callers "Good Morning" and step
to one side.)
Deacon Phelps — Brother Smith, will you lead us?
Elijah Smith — Our Father, Thou who hast for Thine
own good purpose called unto Thyself, thy servant Amos
Morse, be pleased to bless, in word and deed, our brother
upon whom Thy mantle of service has this day fallen, and
"unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to the power that work-
195
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
eth in us", unto Him be glory in the Church of Jesus Christ
throughout all ages. Amen.
Deacon Phelps — Brethren, as you are aware, I am by
trade a clockmaker and a silversmith, and as there is no
opening for my labors in this new section of the state, it
seems inevitable that for a time I continue in Springfield.
I therefore ask letters for myself and wife to the Presby-
terian church of that place.
Dr. Chamberlin — We deeply regret, that you, Deacon
Phelps, our senior counselor, must again leave us, thus de-
pleting our little flock to only four. God's will be done.
May His blessing attend you. With Brother Smith's sanc-
tion, I, as clerk of the Hampshire Colony Church, will sup-
ply your letters. Will you, Brother Phelps, before you go
from our midst, lead us in a word of prayer?
Deacon Phelps — 0 Lord, let Thy work appear unto
Thy servants and Thy glory unto their children and estab-
lish Thou the work of our hands upon us, yea the work of
our hands, establish Thou it. Amen.
—CURTAIN—
196
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
EPISODE VII
FIRST GOLDEN WEDDING CELEBRATED IN
PRINCETON, ILLINOIS.
EBENEZER STRONG PHELPS and ANNE WRIGHT PHELPS
Northampton, Massachusetts, February 24, 1812
Princeton, Illinois, February 24, 1862
RECORD.
"The fiftieth wedding anniversary of Deacon Ebenezer
Strong Phelps and Mrs. Anne Wright Phelps was cele-
brated at the house of their son-in-law, Lewis J. Colton, Es-
quire, of Princeton, Illinois, on Monday, February, February
24, 1862.
"Five of their six children — three sons and two daught-
ers— , two sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, nine grand-
children and a large company of invited guests assembled,
during the afternoon and evening to do them honor. The
family and intimate friends being convened in the large par-
lor, the aged couple, attended by Charles Phelps, Esquire,
(a brother) as groomsman and Mrs. Charles Phelps as
bridesmaid, came in, took their stand and joined hands.
After prayer by Rev. H. C. Hammond, the clergyman of
the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church, the follow-
ing program was carried out."
[Note — The subject matter in this entire episode is made
up of extracts from the original addresses given on the above
occasion; its personnel, real people who emigrated to Illinois
from 1830 through the Fifties and were active and vital
factors in the church and community life of this section of
Bureau County.]
1862 CHARACTERS 1931
Deacon E. S. Phelps - - - Rev. E. B. Cushing
Anne Wright Phelps (Mrs. E. S.) - Clara Allen Harris
Charles Phelps (brother of E. S. P.) - A. C. Best
Mary Strong Phelps (Mrs. C.) - Minnie Agnes Phelps
(Granddaughter, C. P.)
Lewis J. Colton (son-in-law) - Hugh H. Ferris
Mrs. L. J. Colton (daughter) - - Maude C. Ferris
Mrs. J. G. Bubach (daughter) - Grace Phelps Sisler
(Grandniece of E. S. P.)
197
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
E. Hinsdale Phelps (son)
Mrs. E. Hinsdale Phelps
Ebenezer Strong Phelps, Jr.
Mrs. E. S. Phelps, Jr.
James R. Phelps (son)
Mrs. James R. Phelps
Mrs. Harriet Phelps Carpenter
(Neice of E. S. P.) (Great-great granddaughter E. S. P.)
George R. Phelps (nephew of E. S. P.) Albert Pannebaker
Lois Phelps, (granddaughter of E. S. P.) - Rachel Staples
Alice Colton (Judd) (daughter of L. J. C.) - Jean Hewitt
Alex Smythe
Sara Smythe
Robert G. Kelsey
Isadore Hawdon
J. Forrest Peterson
Violet Peterson
Alice Grant
GUESTS
Flora Colton Carpenter
(Daughter of L. J. C.)
David Phelps
(Grandson of E. S. P.)
Willis Colton
(Grandson of E. S. P.)
Deacon Caleb C. Cook
Mr. John H. Bryant
Mrs. John H. Bryant
Mr. Curtis J. Lyons
Chauncey D. Colton
(Brother of L. J. C.)
Mrs. Chauncey D. Colton
Mr. Elijah Smith
Mrs. Elijah Smith
(Granddniece of E.
Mr. Eli Smith
(Brother of Elijah Sr.)
Mrs. Eli Smith
Deacon Lazarus Reeve
Miss Lillian Ruttan
Charles Phelps Burr
James Edwards Skerry
Mr. Chester C. Williams
(Great grandson of C. C. C.)
William Cullen Bryant
(Great grandson of J. H. B.)
Miss Grace Bryant
(Grandniece of J. H. B.)
Aldean Duffield
Chas. H. Gibbs
Mrs. Ada Colton Norton
(Daughter of C. D. C.)
Mr. Wm. N. Shugart
Mrs. Grace Smith Elder
S. and granddaughter of Eli)
Mr. Eli Smith, Jr.
(Son of Eli Sr.)
Mrs. Eli Smith, Jr.
Mr. Reeve Norton
(Grandson of L. R.)
ADDITIONAL GUESTS
Hon. Owen Lovejoy, M. C. - Mr. Elijah Parish Lovejoy
(Son of 0. L.)
Mrs. Owen Lovejoy - Mrs. Sophia Lovejoy Dickenson
(Daughter of 0. L.)
198
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Mr. James Smith
Mrs. James Smith
Mrs. Phylinda Robinson
Mr. Stephen Paddock
Mrs. Stephen Paddock
Miss Mary Denham
Dr. Wm. Anthony
Mrs. Wm. Anthony
Mr. Edwin G. Smith
T. L. Wilson
Miss Lucy Smith
(Niece of J. S.)
Mrs. W. C. Ross
CD. Tedrow
Mrs. Margaret Paddock McKee
(Daughter of S. P.)
Mrs. T. L. Wilson
C. R. F. Billeaux
Mrs. C. R. F. Billeaux
Mr. David S. Hamm
Mr. Alby Smith (and family), Mr. Dee Norton (and family)
(Great grandson of A. S.)
Miss Elizabeth Colton
(Daughter of C. D. C.)
Mr. John Walters
Mr. Cyrus Bryant
Mrs. Cyrus Bryant
Mrs. Cyrus Colton
Mr. Joseph H. Brigham -
Mrs. Joseph H. Brigham
Mr. and Mrs. H. Solomon Burr
Mrs. Rachel Downing
Mrs. Samuel Fay
Willis Colton -
(Son of L. J. C.)
Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Smith
Mrs. Roland Moseley
Mr. Otis Dunbar
Mrs. Otis Dunbar
Mrs. Mildred Norton Andrews
(Granddaughter of C. D.C.)
Mr. Emil Swanson
Mr. Arthur Bryant
(Grand-nephew of C. B.)
Miss Agnes Robinson
(Granddaughter of C. B.)
Mrs. Hattie Colton Green
(Granddaughter of C. C.)
- Mr. Sylvester T. Brigham
(Son of J. H. B.)
Miss Olive Pierce
Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Burr
(Grandson of H. S. B.)
Robert Hinman Burr
(Great-great grandson of H. S. B.)
Miss Mabel Downing
(Granddaughter of R. D.)
Miss Mary Fay
(Granddaughter of S. F.)
James Edward Skerry
(Great-great grandson of S. L. F.)
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Ferris
(Grandson of S. S.)
Miss Fannie Moseley
(Granddaughter of R. M.)
Mr. Fred Henderson Dunbar
(Grandson of 0. D.)
Miss Camilla B. Ferris
(Granddaughter of 0. D.)
199
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Deacon Harvey B. Leeper
Mrs. Harvey B. Leeper
Mrs. N. A. Keyes
Mrs. Elizabeth Wiswall
Mr. and Mrs. Seth Clapp
Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Carey
Mrs. Amanda Stowell
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Dunbar -
Mr. and Mrs. John Crittenden
Miss Ann Pruden
Dr. A. E. Owens
Miss Carrie Dunbar
Miss Etta Shepherd
Mrs. Elizabeth M. Cowley
Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Jardine
Mr. and Mrs. George Gray
Mrs. Gertrude Skinner
Mr. and Mrs. James Fletcher
- Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Pratt
Mrs. Wm. H. Shugart
Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Chamberlain, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Stewart
Mrs. Jane Cook Trimble - - Miss Freada Nelson
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Morris, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. J. Morris
Mr. and Mrs. Egbert Norton, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Field
Mr. and Mrs. James Everett, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Shugart
Mr. and Mrs. Micaijah Triplett, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Foster
Mrs. Caroline Smith
Mrs. Emily Wiswall Triplett
Dr. and Mrs. William Converse,
Mrs. Electa Smith
Miss Pluma Chamberlain
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. P. Griffin
Mrs. Deborah Brown
Mr. and Mrs. George Brown
Miss Harriet Wiswall
Mrs. Abbie Converse
Mrs. Hannah Charlton
Mrs. R. L. Newell
Mr. and Mrs. John P. Blake
Mrs. Mehitabel Corse
Mrs. Aurelia Langworthy
Mrs. Justus Stevens
Mrs. Joel Doolittle
Mrs. Clara Frances Smith
Miss Edna B. Anderson
Mr. and Mrs. M. Griswold
Miss Evelyn E. Graham
Mrs. A. E. Owens
Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Johnson
Mrs. E. M. Stanard
Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Evans
Mrs. Beva Hedenschoug
Miss Mary Uthoff
Mrs. Jessie Baisch
Miss Grace Farwell
Mr. and Mrs. L. Huffaker
Mrs. Charles H. Gibbs
Mrs. F. E. Coulter
Mrs. Newcomb Stevens
Miss Ozella Seward
TIME : Early candlelight, February 24, 1862.
SCENE: The roomy parlor in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis
J. Colton on the Peru Road, two and one-half miles east of Prince-
ton, Illinois.
Pastor, family and intimate friends to the number of fifty as-
sembled. Enter Deacon and Mrs. Ebenezer Strong Phelps attended
by their brother and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Phelps. Rev.
H. S. Hammond, pastor of the Hampshire Colony Church advances,
greets the wedding party and speaks as follows:
200
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
ADDRESS BY REV. H. S. HAMMOND,
Pastor, Hampshire Colony Congregational Church.
Venerable and beloved friends :
This is emphatically the occasion when "days should
speak and multitudes of years teach wisdom." The great
charm and benefit of this day is, that we may hear the
counsels of age and experience. It can seem little less than
presumption for one to come forward to address you who
was not born until three years after you had, in the ma-
turity of adult years, stood up together and entered into
the holiest of human relations. Yet age is proverbially in-
dulgent to the young. Suffer me then, before we listen to
the voices from the past, to extend to you the congratu-
lations of the assembled guests on the return of this joy-
ful anniversary.
And first, you are to be congratulated on your long
and peaceful lives. Existence is itself a blessing, and we
all instinctively desire length of days. Yet few are per-
mitted to see three score years and ten. But both of you
have reached and passed that limit. We must look upon
you as representatives of a past century.
Some of the mightest convulsions that ever shook our
world occurred within your recollection, but a kind Provi-
dence has appointed for you a quiet, retired and peaceful
life. You have been permitted in a comparatively pri-
vate sphere to cultivate the Christian graces, discharge your
civil and social duties and prepare for another world.
We congratulate you also that you have lived in an
eventful period of the world. You have been the spectators
of wonderful events. It is not only a blessing to live, but
still more to live at a good time in the world. And had
you chosen the period of your earthly probation, what other
more interesting age could you have selected?
Born, one of you with the Constitution of the United
States, and the other not long after, your memory goes
back to the administration of the great Washington, at
201
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
whose death you were old enough to be mourners, and fol-
low down through all the succeeding administrations great
and little, to the present day. You have seen the growth
of these states from thirteen to thirty-four and have seen
the increase of our population from three millions to thirty-
two millions and have seen this people spread over and take
possession of this vast territory. Your native state con-
tained the cradle of liberty, and in your youth, yea at the
time of your marriage, the great state where you have now
long resided and where you expect to lay your bones, and
whose soldiery is second to none in their efforts to put
down by force of arms the present civil uprising against our
nation and save the liberties our fathers gained, was known
only as a distant, unsettled territory.
The great progress in the arts and sciences since your
recollections, the inventions and discoveries, the improved
modes of living, of traveling, of communicating with
friends time would utterly fail me to specify. I leave them
for you to speak of in the informal discourse we expect in
this social interview.
But I must mention some of the triumphs of the Re-
deemer's Kingdom you have witnessed.
The vast system of Christian benevolence, with its
many ramifications of foreign missions, home missions,
Bible societies, tract societies, Sababth-school societies,
homes for the friendless, homes for the seamen, and a
score of other benevolent institutions have had their
principal growth since your marriage.
You have seen great and precious revivals of religion —
great progress in the churches of Christ at home and abroad.
That you have lived in such an age of progress and triumphs
of right must be to you a matter of rejoicing. Could you
see one more triumph, I mean the triumph of right and jus-
tice over slavery in our land, we doubt not you would with
old Simeon cheerfully say, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy ser-
vant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salva-
202
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
tion." We are not without hope that you will live to witness
even that.
We congratulate you on the abundance of your domestic
happiness. For half a century you have enjoyed this most
blessed of all human relations. And, because, we fancy,
yours was not a hasty, inconsiderate marriage, but one
founded on intimate knowledge of each other, derived from
early association and long acquaintance, and what is now
perhaps too lightly esteemed, a long bethrothal more than
all, founded on a hearty mutual agreement in the great
end of life. The solemn vows which you assumed fifty
years ago to-day have been faithfully remembered. For
much more than half a century you have been numbered
among the Lord's people. Your names were on the church
records before your marriage. For almost half a century
one of you has been an office bearer in the Church of Christ.
You erected your family altar when you first had a fire-
side of your own. And through the blessing of a covenant
keeping God, you have been permitted to see your children
walking in your footsteps. Blessed of the Lord and highly
favored must we be permitted to call you.
We congratulate you also as we look to the future ; for,
another fifty years will roll away. Time has not ceased
his flight with the return of this anniversary — the pen-
dulum is swinging even while the clock is striking the hour.
And so another period of fifty years has already begun.
That God may bless you even down to death and cause
men to bless your memory when you are gone, is our fervent
prayer.
ADDRESS BY DEACON CALEB C. COOK
In Behalf of the Church.
Venerable Brother and Sister:
The honor has been conferred upon me of extending
to you, on this felicitous occasion, the congratulations of the
church of which you are members.
I could wish that this duty had fallen to the lot of
203
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
one more gifted, but according to my ability I will discharge
it with sincere pleasure.
It was my happiness to know you back in your early
home and I can testify that then, among those who had
known you from your youth up, you both were highly es-
teemed and honored. I can scarcely find fitting terms to
express your relations and services to this church. With
you originated the idea of forming the Hampshire Colony
Church in old Massachusetts, to be transplanted thence to
this western prairie. You were chosen one of its first
deacons, and although on your first removal west, Provi-
dence prevented your locating with us, during the few years
of your absence your prayers followed us. When you re-
turned you brought us an accession of wisdom, of business
talents, of influence, of piety and of strength. Your watch-
fulness over the interests of this church has been constant
and untiring; your labors as an officer, a brother, a super-
intendent of the Sabbath-school have been abundant; your
contributions an example of liberality, your prayers un-
ceasing.
Through Divine grace you have also discharged faith-
fully your duties as a citizen of this community and so
"have had a good report of them that are without", which,
coupled with the Christian reputation of your long associate
deacon, the late Dr. Nathaniel Chamberlin, has greatly
honored the church and the religion of Christ.
We congratulate you also that for fifty years you have
been blessed with a companion who has been a partaker
of the same precious faith, has shared your joys and sor-
rows in prosperity and in adversity, and whose adorning has
been such as the apostle describes as "of a meek and quiet
spirit which is, in the sight of God, of great price."
ADDRESS BY E. S. PHELPS, JR.,
In Behalf of The Children.
Dear Parents:
In behalf of the children I would say: We have often
204
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
felt thankful that you have reared and trained us up in the
fear of God.
You taught us to live — not alone for selfish purposes,
but that the great object in life is to make the world bet-
ter for our having lived in it.
The times demand of us much more than they did of
you. Christ is overturning the world and the church; and
the true spirit of progression is about to lift up its standard.
"The gloomy night is breaking,
E'en now the sunbeams rest
With a faint but cheerful radiance
On the hilltops of the west."
We feel that, as your children, we can truly "rise up
and call you blessed". You have blessed the world by living
in it. Shall we do less? We feel a desire to go forward in
every good word and work, that we may be prepared, at
the end, to hear, "WTell done, good and faithful servants,"
and, as one unbroken family, meet in the spirit-world, bless-
ing and being blessed, where parting will never come.
ADDRESS BY CURTIS S. LYONS
In Behalf of The Grandchildren.
Our esteemed and beloved grandparents and friends:
Happy greeting:
We of the third generation wish to unite our voices
with those of our parents and older friends in congratu-
lating you at this time. We can form but little idea of what
it is to have lived seventy or seventy-five years, but the
Bible calls long life a blessing and we are glad you have
been thus blessed. We are glad that you have lived to see
us grow up around you, with our smiles and frolic; for,
though we are full of mischief and confess to be often
troublesome, we know you consider us as blessings.
We are thankful this day has come; for we are apt
to think that you were always old : that Deacon Phelps was
always gray, and that Grandma always stooped just a little.
205
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
But today reminds us that once it was "Eben" and
"Anne" — the old gentleman whispers that it was "Strong"
and "Annie" — who delighted in each other's smiles, who
rode to the music of the sleigh bells in the snowy valley of
the Connecticut under the leafless, swaying branches of the
old elm trees ; who walked together on summer evenings in
the holy consecrated shade of those same trees; who, to
speak less poetically, were "cutting around generally" in
the days when Commodore Perry was thundering away in
the battles of Lake Erie and General Jackson was giving
"Hail Columbia" to the Britishers at New Orleans. It is
suspected that Anne feared in those days that "Ebenezer"
would have to be "set up" as a mark for the British to shoot
at. Sundry funny things, too, may be remembered of those
times, but we will be reverent and leave it for the old peo-
ple to make fun of each other.
But little folks should be seen, not heard; so our
words must be few.
As the years go on we trust you will yet enjoy them;
that we, too, will grow older and wiser and better able to
comfort and sustain you; and that we may all be preparing
for that place where all shall be "golden", clear and bright,
where shall be consummated the wedding of the spotless
Lamb of God, to the holy bride, the Church.
THE HISTORY OF EBENEZER STRONG PHELPS.
I, Ebenezer Strong Phelps, was born in Northampton,
Massachusetts, September 3, 1788, being the fourth child
of Nathaniel and Lucy Phelps, of the fifth generation of
Nathaniel Phelps that settled in Northampton in 1660.
My wife, Anne Wright, daughter of Asahel and Rachel
Wright, was born in Northampton, May 10, 1781, a descen-
dant of one of the early settler of Northampton.
I was named after my maternal grandfather, Captain
Ebenezer Strong of Newhampton. My grandfather was a
captain in the American Revolution,
206
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
I enjoyed the usual common school opportunities un-
til June, 1803, when I was apprenticed to Mr. Isaac Gere of
Northampton to learn the business of silver and goldsmith,
also making- brass eight-day clocks. I was at that time
in my fifteenth year.
In the spring of 1806 a revival of religion commenced
among the young people on the "plain". It spread soon in-
to all parts of the town. The young girls with whom I as-
sociated were among the first awakened. Soon numbers of
them were hopefully converted and on the first Sabbath
in June, as many as sixty persons, mostly youths, were ad-
mitted to the church. One of that number, Anne Wright,
then about fifteen years old. The revival continued and
on the first Sabbath in August about thirty were admitted,
one of whom was Ebenezer Strong Phelps, then nearly
eighteen years of age.
In January, 1809, Mr. Gere, with my parents' and my
own consent, sent me to Newark, New Jersey, to work in
the jewelry business for Messrs. Hinsdale and Taylor, I be-
ing in my twenty-first year. I went to Newark at the close
of a very interesting revival of religion under Dr. Griffin
and in March of the same year was received by letter into
the church.
I have since considered it one of the greatest blessings
of my life that I spent those three years in Newark. I think
I obtained clearer views of the nature of religions of Christ
during those years, than in all my life.
In January, 1812, owing to the dullness of business on
account of the prospect of war with Great Britain, I left
Newark and returned to my father's in Northampton. The
prospect of business being so poor in the States and a num-
ber of my acquaintances having gone to Montreal, Canada,
I made up my mind to go. But for about six years, I had
been paying my attentions to Miss Anne Wright. We con-
cluded before I left for Canada, we had better be married.
We were married February 24, 1812.
207
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
Soon after our marriage, the prospect of war becoming
stronger and Mr. Gere having offered to go into the jewelry
business with me, I concluded to give up going to Canada
and went to Boston to purchase tools and materials to com-
mence business. In June war was declared against Great
Britain. In September Mr. Gere died. It was thought best
by us and our friends that James Crooks, who had been
working as a journeyman with Mr. Gere and myself, buy
the stock on hand, hire the store and carry on the business.
We did so and the business continued under the firm of
Crooks and Phelps.
During our sojourn in Northampton six children were
born to us. All but one, Charles Chester, are present with
us to-night.
Twenty-five of the thirty-three grandchildren God has
given us are now living.
During our continuance in Northampton, God blessed
the church there with many interesting revivals in which we
were permitted to labor. When I was twenty-eight years
old, in 1816, I was chosen one of the deacons, which office
I held until March 23, 1831, when the Hampshire Colony
Church was formed and I was chosen one of its deacons.
On May 4, 1831, my eldest sons, Hinsdale and Charles,
started for Illinois, meeting Dr. Chamberlin in Albany. June
13, we, with the rest of our children and a few friends, left
for Illinois. We arrived safely in Springfield, on the twen-
ty-sixth day of July, 1831. I came up here from Springfield.
A church meeting was called and met at a log cabin which
Brother Elijah Smith and his brother Eli were building
about three miles north of the present courthouse.
Present at that meeting were the following male mem-
bers: Deacon Nathaniel Chamberlin, Ebenezer Strong
Phelps and Elijah Smith. After a season of prayer I re-
quested letters for myself and wife to the Presbyterian
church in Springfield, which were granted.
208
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
In May, 1835, we moved with our family to Princeton
and were received on letter into the Hampshire Colony Con-
gregational Church. Since then we have been connected
with it, have shared its joys and sorrows, its blessings and
its sins. Of its sins I feel to confess and lament my share.
I think I have continually a comfortable hope that I am
truly a child of God. I am, through grace, enabled to look
forward to the grave and eternity without anxious fear
and do expect through atonement and mediation of Jesus
Christ, our Redeemer, to be admitted to the Marriage Sup-
per of the Lamb.
Our experience is that God is a faithful God. And my
testimony to our children is: "Blessed are all those who
trust in Him."
To our grandchildren we would say : "Seek the Lord in
the morning of your days. Accept of Jesus Christ as your
Saviour now; serve Him through life. In all trials He will
be with you and when you are called to pass through the
Valley of the Shadow of Death, His rod and His staff will
support and comfort you. And so may we all meet in
Heaven, a family saved through the grace and mercy of
God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. So may it be.
"Silver Threads Among the Gold",
(Sung by Evelyn Ross and David Hamm)
209
THE HAMPSHIRE COLONY CHURCH
POEM
Addressed to Deacon E. S. Phelps and Anne Wright, his wife, on the
Fiftieth Anniversary of Their Marriage.
'Twas fifty years ago today,
These friends of ours, now old and gray,
Before the marriage altar stood,
In blooming man and woman-hood.
Life's vista lay before you bright
With joy and hope and living light;
Your path all smooth to fancy's eye,
No rugged steps, no stormy sky.
Within the space of fifty years,
How much of joy, how many fears,
How much of sorrow now forgot,
How much of love and peace your lot?
Beneath your eye how vast has grown
This blessed land we call our own !
What feasts has knowledge round us spread,
Made common as our daily bread!
What comforts has invention poured,
What plenty crowns the scanty board!
And peace seemed ours through coming time,
Till war came on the path of crime.
In all the ways your feet have trod,
Your stay has been the living God;
A fixed and earnest faith in Him,
Which neither joy nor grief could dim.
Blest in your basket and your store,
Blest in the love of children more,
In calm repose, life's labors done,
Patient you wait its setting sun.
— J. H. Bryant
(Read at the Centennial of the Hampshire Colony Congregational
Church, March 23, 1931, by William Cullem Bryant, Great
Grand-son of John H. Bryant, the writer.)
210
ITS FIRST HUNDRED YEARS
Mrs. Lewis J. Colton — (tenderly placing a light shawl
over her mother's shoulders.) Truly this has been a won-
derful, wonderful day.
Deacon Phelps — Yes, a full and blessed day. How little
we thought, dear wife, when we left our far off eastern home
and kindred, that in our brief life-span, we should see so
many home fires kindled on these broad prairies and gather
to our hearts such a host of true and loyal friends as those
we have had with us tonight. But the evening grows late ;
let us, my children, repeat together the Twenty-third Psalm
and seek God's blessing ere we go to rest.
(All repeat Psalm and kneel in prayer.)
Deacon Phelps — We thank Thee, our Father, for Thy
rich and manifold blessings to us, Thy faulty children, for
kindred, for homes and for friends. Forgive our many short
comings; bless us in basket and in store and strengthen us
in every good word and work to do Thy pleasure, for Thy
name's sake. Amen.
—CURTAIN—
211
Editors' Note. — Discrepancies in the spelling of
proper names have appeared frequently in the
records available. In all cases the spelling in the
original manuscript has been preserved. It is re-
gretted that some material, records and illustra-
tions, has been submitted too late for logical
arrangement.
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